Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 5: It is said that All India Congress Committee president, Rahul Gandhi, has been insisting on resting those who had earlier functioned as ministers, and giving opportunity to the young lot. A large number of senior leaders of the party are opposed to this formula. As against this, JD(S) reportedly has decided to give one portfolio per minister and limit number of ministers to one per district. Chief minister, H D Kumaraswamy, has stressed that even his brother, H D Revanna, is not an exception to this rule, putting to rest the speculation that Revanna will have two portfolios, PWD and energy.

Congress leaders, Dr G Parameshwar, Siddaramaiah D K Shivakumar and some others left for New Delhi on Monday evening with a list of probable ministers. They will discuss the list with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday June 5 afternoon and hopefully finalize the list.

Rahul Gandhi

JD(S), it is said, has decided to make G T Deve Gowda from Mysuru, C S Puttaraju or D C Tammanna from Mandya, Gubbi Vasu or Satyanarayana, Srinivas Gowda from Kolar and Bandeppa Kashampur from Bidar, ministers. There are several aspirants from Hassan, Mandya, Mysuru and Tumakuru districts but the leadership will give only one ministerial post to each district. H Vishwanath, who crossed over to JD(S) and won from Hunsur constituency is likely to be made deputy speaker of the legislative assembly. Although a total of 11 persons from JD(S) can become ministers, it is said that in the first expansion of the ministry, eight would be inducted and three positions will be left vacant. From Lingayat quota, a MLC will be made minister and B M Fafooq will be made a minister from minorities quota.

Several Congress leaders, who were ministers earlier and who are apprehensive being deprived of this post again, have also reached New Delhi to argue their case. It is said that they have warned top leaders of the risks involved in having only young ministers, and expressed the opinion that a mix of senior and junior Congressmen can make a good cabinet. At the Tuesday meeting, the discomfort within the party over the decision to give full five years term as chief minister to to Kumaraswamy is also likely to be discussed.

Congress can have 22 ministers. It is said that the party is in favour of filling 17 posts initially and retaining the other five seats vacant for the time being.