Bengaluru: The Congress high command's attempt to form a full-fledged cabinet did not fructify. As a result, its Karnataka government will be formed with 10 ministers including Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. The swearing-in which is to be held at Kanteerava Stadium in the City will witness the attendance of the grand old party's high command and several leaders from the Opposition including serving Chief Ministers from Congress, non-BJP states, and former CM's.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar flew to Delhi on Friday along with general secretary in-charge Randeep Surjewala and held rapid discussions till late into the night over the cabinet formation. First, Siddaramaiah met Congress leaders K C Venugopal and Surjewala. Shivakumar joined them in the discussions over the probable names to be included in the new cabinet.
The participants brainstormed on drawing a balance between all sections, groups, communities and regions. While consensus could be arrived at one-third of sanctioned strength of the cabinet which is 34, eight names were picked from the probable candidates and finalised. The top leaders including party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were kept in the loop.
After finalising the list, Siddaramaiah flew back to Bengaluru during the wee hours on Saturday and his deputy in the government arrived few hours later in the day. All those eight legislators who were chosen to be part of the government were informed in the middle of the night and were adviced to attend the swearing-in with their families.
The list of legislators to be sworn in as ministers was sent to Raj Bhavan and the same will be approved by the Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot. The list includes According to sources, Congress MLAs KPCC working president Ramalingareddy, former deputy CM Dr G Parameshwara, former Union Minister KH Muniyappa, former Minister KJ George, Election Campaign Committee president MB Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, AICC chief Kharge's son Priyank Kharge, and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan.
The race for cabinet berths has become very intense in the just concluded Karnataka election wherein the grand old party dislodged the incumbent BJP by scoring 135 seats in the 224-member House. Some of the aspirants were upset over the swearing-in of small cabinet as they had prepared with their families to attend the swearing-in hoping that they would be part of the full fledged cabinet.
