Belagavi, Dec 14: Congress leaders from North Karnataka are pointing to an imbalance in numbers vis-a-vis the South to strengthen their case before the party leadership even as lobbying for ministerial berths intensified ahead of cabinet expansion scheduled for December 22.
Leaders from the region are cross over the elevation of K Pratap Chandra Shetty to the post of chairman of the legislative council. Shetty, from Udupi, was picked over SR Patil (Congress) and Basavaraj Horatti (JD-S), both from North Karnataka, reportedly under pressure from former PM and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda.
“The Congress has so far chosen only five of 41 party legislators elected from North Karnataka for minister posts in the coalition government and nine of 39 from the South,” MB Patil, ministerial aspirant and former minister, told reporters on Thursday.
As per the coalition pact, Congress can fill 22 of the 34 cabinet berths. So far, the Congress has filled only 16. In the entire cabinet involving both Congress and JD(S) members, 18 legislators from South Karnataka have been made ministers against only eight from North Karnataka.
Patil pointed out that Shankar, an independent MLA from the Kuruba community and elected from Rannebennur, was made a minister under Congress quota, despite the party having eight legislators from the community.
Moreover, he said, all those filling constitutional posts such as chief minister, deputy chief minister, assembly speaker, council chairman, Congress legislature party leader and Janata Dal legislature party leader, are from South Karnataka.
“This is an injustice to North Karnataka,” Patil said, while insisting MLAs from North Karnataka must get greater representation. “I have great respect for Shetty, but many leaders are obviously disappointed since senior leader SR Patil was not considered for the council chairman post. I reckon the party did not consider him because they used a different yardstick while making the choice.”
He went on to say, “North and South are like two eyes. Both should be treated equally. And there is no disputing the fact that North Karnataka’s contribution is greater to the overall development of state.” He said he would raise all these issues in the Congress legislature party meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Congress has been facing dissidence from day one with several senior leaders miffed that they were not given ministerial berths. Leaders including MB Patil, HK Patil, SR Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Ramalinga Reddy and R Roshan Baig — all of whom were ministers in the previous Siddaramaiah government — are upset over not being given a portfolio this time.
‘Shoonya’ masa may defer expansion
Given the superstitious nature of the HD Deve Gowda family, cabinet expansion is unlikely to happen on December 22 if sources in Congress and JD(S) are to be believed.
“The Gowda family will not allow cabinet to be expanded during ‘Dhanur’ masa, an inauspicious month that starts from December 15 and ends on January 15,” said a senior Congress leader. “Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy’s brother and PWD minister HD Revanna, a staunch believer in astrology, has already warned the government will face danger if it takes up any major work or projects during ‘Dhanur’ masa, which is also called ‘Shoonya’ masa,” said a JD(S) legislator, indicating that cabinet expansion may happen only after Lok Sabha polls next year.
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