With the Cabinet expansion being put off to Friday, legislators seeking ministerial berths are bargaining hard with the party high command and K.C. Venugopal, All-India Congress Committee general secretary in charge of Karnataka.
Sources in the Congress and the JD(S) said that Cabinet expansion would only flame the rebellion in both parties. Party leaders believe discontent in ruling parties can be doused only through a Cabinet reshuffle and the dropping of “non-performing” Ministers.
A few Congress leaders claimed that some Ministers have not even held proper meetings with their department officials during the past one year. However, Ministers cited byelections and the general elections as the major reasons for fewer departmental meetings.
With local Congress leaders not conceding the demands of legislators, sources said senior legislators are expected to mount pressure on the party by holding discussions with Mr. Venugopal, who is expected to visit the city in a few days.
Many legislators have been expressing unhappiness with the party high command for allegedly listening to only Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah on Cabinet expansion and the functioning of the government.