Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Aug 18: It is learnt that Karnataka chief minister, Siddaramaiah, has handed over a list of people he proposes to include in his ministry. With this, hectic parleys which were going on by various factions to back candidates of their choice to the posts of ministers have stopped and there is lull in political circles albeit temporarily.

Now it is up to Congress high command to give its nod to the list or suggest its own candidates. The six names which have been proposed by Siddaramaiah reportedly include MLA, R B Timmapur, Malavalli MLA, Narendra Swamy, Tiptur MLA, Shadakshari, and Yadgir MLA, A B Malakaraddi.

There is tussle to fill the void created by the resignation of former home minister and KPCC president, Dr G Parameshwara, and the fight is between Timmapur and Narendra Swamy, as the vacancy of the ministerial post is to be filled by a candidate belonging to scheduled caste. While Siddaramaiah is said to be in favour of Narendra Swamy, veteran Congress leader, former union minister and MP, K H Muniyappa, is hell bent on making Timmapur a minister, it is gathered.

As per information, the chief minister has decided to vest the home department which he currently holds, with forest minister, B Ramanath Rai. The forest department might be given to H M Revanna, cooperatives department to Shadkashari and excise department to Timmapur.

A Lingayat candidate is proposed to be brought in the vacancy created with the death of former minister, H S Mahadev Prasad. Shadakshari and Malakaraddi are fighting it out to fill this vacancy. Parameshwara, it is said, is in favour making Shadakshari the minister as he hails from KPCC president's home district and has hold on Lingayat vote bank.

All the ministerial aspirants have lobbied hard and therefore, it is difficult to predict who will be chosen. The high command is expected to hold consultation with senior leader, Mallikarjun Kharge and others from Karnataka before finalizing the list in about two to three days. There are also faint chances of high command replacing those in the list with its own candidates.

In the meanwhile, former union minister, C M Ibrahim, who is close to the chief minister, might be fielded by Congress in the election being held to a vacant seat in legislative council on August 31.