Despite the coalition coordination committee announcing its decision to expand the State Cabinet soon after the Belagavi legislature session, aspirants in the Congress are doubtful this deadline will be adhered to.
J.N. Ganesh, legislator from Kampli Assembly constituency and one of the aspirants, said on Thursday that there was every possibility of the long-awaited expansion being deferred again, this time to until after the Lok Sabha polls next year.
Senior Congress leader and former Minister Ramalinga Reddy also said he was wary of the announcement of Cabinet expansion by December 22.
He said that the insistence of some leaders that the expansion should not happen in Shunya Masa (regarded as an “inauspicious” time) might result in it being put off again. He said Public Works Minister H.D. Revanna would not allow the exercise this month because of is belief in astrology.
He accused party leaders of making false promises to gain time till the Lok Sabha polls. Mr. Reddy said Cabinet expansion would be a reality after May only. He also alleged that senior leaders were being sidelined in the Congress.
However, other sources in both the JD(S) and the Congress discounted these comments and said the Cabinet would be expanded a day after the completion of the the winter session, given the BJP’s threat of poaching disgruntled legislators. According to a senior Congress leader, coordination committee leaders have convinced JD(S) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda of the rationale behind the move.