Siddu may drop 10 ministers; Rizwan, Madhwaraj among new aspirants

Bengaluru, Jun 15: Around 10 “non-performing” Ministers in Karnataka may lose their posts as the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is all set for the much awaited reshuffle of State Cabinet and induction of a few new faces.

The CM feels that this is the right time to the reshuffle as the election cycle' (gram panchayat, zilla panchayat, Legislative Assembly by-polls, Legislative Council, and Raja Sabha elections), is already completed in the state.

Mr. Siddaramaiah is expected to leave for Delhi on Thursday to discuss the matter with the party high command. Several Congress leaders, including some Ministers from the State, are said to be “lobbying” with the high command. Some have submitted a petition demanding that “non-performing” Ministers be dropped.

Senior legislators A.B. Malakaraddy, K.B. Koliwad, Basavaraja Rayareddy, P.M. Ashok, Hampanagouda Badarli, Appaji Nadagouda, G.T. Patil, H.Y. Meti, Ajay Singh, Priyank Kharge, Rizwan Arshad, and Pramod Madhwaraj have been camping in Delhi for the last two days and meeting senior party leaders seeking Cabinet berth, according to sources.

Preliminary discussions were already held between the Chief Minister and AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Digvijaya Singh during the latter's visit to the State last week. The party is also expected to take a decision on appointing a new Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.

Nearly 30 MLAs have been spearheading the demand for a Cabinet reshuffle, claiming that the government's image has sullied owing to “non-performing” Ministers holding prominent portfolios. Ministers who have faced controversies, such as P.T. Parameshwara Naik, Baburao Chinchansur and eight or nine others, may face the axe, said sources.