Karnataka Congress reaches out to MLAs upset over Cabinet exclusion ahead of Monsoon Session
The ruling Congress in Karnataka is stepping up efforts to placate disgruntled legislators and senior leaders who were not accommodated in the recent Cabinet expansion. Party sources indicate that some of these legislators may remain absent from the Monsoon Session starting next week, a move that could embarrass the government and give the Opposition an opportunity to attack.
Though no final decision on staying away from the session has been taken, internal discussions have begun. “The absence of legislators from the House would embarrass the government and provide fodder to the Opposition. Some legislators want to send a message to the party that they are upset. However, a decision is likely to be taken only on the eve of August 13,” sources aware of the developments said.
As part of the outreach, the government is exploring offers such as party positions or posts in boards and corporations to change the minds of such legislators, sources added.
On Thursday, Congress general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala, met H.K. Patil and A. Krishnappa in an effort to mollify them. According to a party leader, both were requested to exercise restraint and patience. They are deeply upset and view their exclusion from the Cabinet as a “public humiliation.”
Former Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, who also missed out on a Cabinet berth, met Mr. Patil on Thursday. Sources said the discussion revolved around their exclusion and future possibilities.
Separately, the party is also reaching out to individual legislators who are upset, through Ministers and other legislators who wield influence in their communities or regions. “One Lingayat legislator from North Karnataka was mollified after a senior Lingayat Minister, who has sway over his sub-community, spoke to him,” a source said.
Even as party leaders, including B.K. Hariprasad and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, are engaged in reaching out to disgruntled legislators, the Congress is now facing the challenge of allocating portfolios to the 19 newly inducted Ministers.
Three Ministers — K.H. Muniyappa, Krishna Byre Gowda and Ramalinga Reddy — had earlier created a flutter over portfolio allocation, and sources said a similar situation is likely to recur this time as well. Meanwhile, Basavaraj Rayareddi has sought the Finance portfolio, while Vijayanand Kashappanavar has sought a “public-connect portfolio.”
In a related development, A.V. Gayatri Shanthegowda, whose inclusion in the list of Cabinet probables created a flutter and reportedly upset former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, will take oath as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) on Friday.
Though she was scheduled to take oath on Monday afternoon before the swearing-in of the Cabinet Ministers, it had to be postponed as the Legislative Council Secretariat did not receive the election certificate from the Chikkamagaluru Deputy Commissioner. This is her second term as an MLC.
The term, which will last less than two years, comes after a long legal battle against the election of M.K. Pranesh, former Deputy Chairman, who was disqualified following court orders. Ms. Shanthegowda, who had lost to Mr. Pranesh in the Chikkamagaluru Local Authorities constituency election in 2022, was declared elected after a recount.
