Bengaluru, July 22 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday said the Congress high command will take the final call on Cabinet expansion, adding that the meeting scheduled for the day could not be held due to unavoidable circumstances.
“Our party’s high command is supreme. They seek our opinion and then take a decision. They will decide after considering new faces and regional and district-wise representation,” Shivakumar told reporters at Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi.
He said the Government had obtained the Governor’s approval to expand the Cabinet and hold the swearing-in ceremony for new ministers on Wednesday. “However, the meeting scheduled for Tuesday could not be held due to unavoidable circumstances,” he added.
Shivakumar also recounted the protest outside Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s residence, where he was briefly detained along with other leaders.
“Today, while our leaders were staging a protest, they were detained. When the police attempted to drag me, LoP Rahul Gandhi warned them not to touch a Chief Minister. He later requested me to step aside, and I did so,” he said.
Responding to questions about Rahul Gandhi reportedly laying down criteria for Cabinet appointments, Shivakumar said such matters were not discussed in public.
“Wasn’t Congress MLC Boseraju made a minister even though he was not an MLA? Wasn’t Chandrashekar chosen during Krishna’s government? Haven’t members of the media been made MLCs and MPs?” he asked.
On whether there was an element of surprise in the Cabinet exercise, he said, “If it benefits the Congress party, we should be prepared to do whatever is necessary.”
He added that the process was being discussed collectively. “Our leaders discuss these matters with us and seek our opinions. The same process was followed during Siddaramaiah’s government. Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah and Hariprasad have all discussed the matter together,” he said.
Asked whether all 20 vacant ministerial positions would be filled, Shivakumar said, “I do not know. I would like all positions to be filled. There is no point in keeping them vacant. The posts of Chief Whip, Chairman of the Legislative Council and Speaker also need to be filled.”
He explained that he was ready to finalise the list immediately. “If I am given the opportunity today, I am ready to finalise the list today itself. I do not want this issue to be delayed. I was supposed to return on Monday. I had responsibilities in Hassan. Therefore, I came to Delhi on Tuesday. A meeting was scheduled for Tuesday night, but our leaders were detained. The discussion will take place once they arrive,” he said.
Asked whether younger leaders would be given an opportunity, Shivakumar said, “For me, all 136 MLAs and members of the Legislative Council are equal. Everyone is deserving. became a minister for the first time once. I desire to give opportunities to young leaders. We must follow the guice given by the Delhi leadership.”
Talking about the protest, he said, “The future of India rests on its young students. More than 2.5 million students had prepared hard for the examination, and the question paper leak has shattered their dreams. Therefore, students are protesting to express their pain. What matters is how those protesting are being treated. Congress has responded to the sentiments of the students.”
He demanded that Union Ministers resign and justice be delivered to students.
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(Written with inputs from IANS)
