BENGALURU: The JD(S) camp, seen as having wrested the advantage from its coalition partner by securing plum ministries, is facing internal turbulence, with far too many senior legislators in contention for the 12 berths.
While lobbying has intensified, party honchos have reportedly decided to fill only seven berths when the cabinet expansion happens on Wednesday.
Congress, which has 22 portfolios, is likely to induct 11ministers in the first phase.
“Contrary to public perception that Congress is finding it complicated to pick ministers...the situation is quite tough here. While Congress can exercise discretion citing regional representation and caste balance, the room for manoeuvrability is limited for us as a majority of our MLAs are from Old Mysuru region and from the Vokkaliga community,” a JD(S) source said.
‘HDK to keep finance, PWD for Revanna’
What is likely to complicate the situation for JD(S) is the “family quota”, said a party source, “Of the 12 berths,
Kumaraswamy is set to keep the finance portfolio with himself along with another one, maybe information. Kumaraswamy’s brother HD
Revanna is likely to get the lucrative public works department and power portfolios. One more portfolio will be kept vacant for future expansion. So, only seven portfolios will be up for grabs,” the source said.
The frontrunners for ministership are seniors who have won more than three times so far. While Sakleshpur MLA HK Kumaraswamy, who has won for the sixth time, is all set to be taken into the cabinet under the Dalit quota, the other strong contenders from Hassan include Arsikere MLA KM Shivalinge Gowda and Arakalgud MLA AT
Ramaswamy.
“But elevating MLAs from Hassan to ministers will not enthuse Revanna, who has been dominating the political landscape of the district. While Ramaswamy is likely to be made deputy speaker, Shivalinge Gowda might be told to head an important corporation,” a source said.
