BENGALURU: The co-ordination committee of the
JDS and
Congress have resolved to hold the cabinet expansion of their coalition government in the third week of September.
Speaking to the media after an hour-long meeting of the five-member committee, co-ordination committee chairman
Siddaramaiah said: “The committee has unanimously decided to have the cabinet expansion in the third week of September. This decision will see the Congress and JDS fill their seven vacant ministerial berths in the government.”
While the Congress has six vacant berths, JDS has one empty ministerial post under the coalition agreement between the two parties.
Siddaramaiah further said that the two parties will also nominate the chairmans to the 90 odd boards and corporations during the same week, as per the seat sharing agreement of 2:1.
In other decisions, Siddaramaiah said the committee has also asked the government to categorically increase the disbursal of 7 kilos of rice vis-a-vis the proposed five kilos of rice by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy under the Anna Bhagya scheme.
“There is no confusion in this regard as the committee has asked the government to carry forward the same quantity of seven kilos under the Anna Bhagya scheme,” said Siddaramaiah.
The Anna Bhagya scheme was a populist scheme under Siddaramaiah regime.
Meanwhile in other major decisions, the co-ordination committee also resolved to have a post-poll alliance for the urban local bodies in the state. As many as 105 ULBs went to polls on Friday.
“A decision has been taken to have a post-poll alliance at all ULBs where a fractured mandate will emerge. Accordingly, both the parties high commands will ask their respective local units to have a capture the position of the ruling coalition in these fractured ULBs,” said Siddaramaiah.
On the controversial issue of promotions in government services based on reservation, with the previous government even bringing an act to safeguard the promotions of the SC/ST employees based on reservation, Siddaramaiah said the committee has asked the government to wait till the Supreme Court hearing on the matter.
“The SC is scheduled to hear the case, challenging the act of the previous government and the promotions on reservation, on September 5. We have advised the government to wait till the hearing and then take a further decision,” he said.
Siddaramaiah ends speculations of toppling government
Siddaramaiah also ended all speculations of him allegedly being unhappy with the coalition regime and trying to topple the H D Kumarswamy government.
“All these speculations in the media are baseless and unfounded. When I spoke in Holenarsipura I only said I will become the CM if people bless me during the next assembly polls. This is being misrepresented,” he said.
While denying that he is set to contest the next elections, be it Lok Sabha or Assembly polls, Siddaramaiah said he has no interest in bringing this government down.
“I have not taken any decision on contesting electoral politics in the future. If only the people bless me I will take a call,” he said.
People are satisfied with the government: Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah sidestepped the issue of his letters being sent to CM HD Kumarswamy on several issues indicating his dissatisfaction with the incumbent administration but said it has served the common man in the last 100 days.
“This matter of my letters and response from CM Kumarswamy is not relevant now. What I believe is that this government has worked for the people with its loan waiver schemes and the continuation of the previous Congress regime populist schemes,” said Siddaramaiah.
The former CM dismissed speculations that he was not consulted for the loan waiver scheme and cited that the decision was discussed at length and that all further decisions including resource mobilisations has been dwelt into and decided upon by the cabinet.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah (File Photo)
