Bangalore. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar will leave for Delhi on Wednesday where they are likely to hold discussions with the Congress central leadership on cabinet expansion in the state and allocation of portfolios to existing ministers.
As per the official schedule of the chief minister, Siddaramaiah will leave for Delhi at 6.30 pm in a special flight. He will spend the night in the national capital itself. The Deputy Chief Minister will leave for Delhi in the afternoon and reach Delhi by evening. According to the schedule made available for Shivakumar’s visit to Delhi, he will be accompanied by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and some other senior party leaders. Will meet, although there is no time yet to return to Bangalore.
While the details of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar’s visit to Delhi have not been shared with the media, party sources said the two leaders are likely to meet the Congress high command on the issue of portfolio allocation to sitting ministers and cabinet expansion. Siddaramaiah in Karnataka And Shivakumar was sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively on May 20 along with eight ministers. However, portfolios have not been allotted to these ministers yet.
According to Congress sources, the party high command approved the first list of eight ministers in a meeting held in Delhi last week ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, while a larger number of legislators are planned to be inducted in the first cabinet. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar allegedly had differences of opinion over some names during the discussion.
Allocation of portfolios to the new ministers and formation of a cabinet that has representation from all communities, regions, factions and new and old generation legislators is a daunting task for Siddaramaiah. The sanctioned strength of ministers in the Karnataka cabinet is 34. In view of this, many leaders are involved in the race to become ministers.
Read the Latest India News Today on The Eastern Herald.
