Bengaluru, Sep 20 (DHNS): Following reports that the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was planning either an expansion or reshuffle of his council of ministers, aspirants in the State Congress have begun lobbying for ministerial berths.
A number of aspirants met Siddaramaiah on Saturday seeking ministerial berths. Some had sent their supporters to submit a memorandum to him. Siddaramaiah is learnt to have assured them that he would take appropriate decisions after consulting the party high command.
Speculation was rife that the chief minister was likely to take up the exercise of either expanding or reshuffling the council of ministers by the end of September.
Siddaramaiah and State Congress president G Parameshwara are likely to hold discussions with the party high command in Delhi next week in this regard. The party has a long list of aspirants and many of them are senior legislators. Parameshwara is one of the aspirants and he has been trying hard to get the post of deputy chief minister.
Congress legislators Siddu Nyamagouda (Jamakhandi), Eshwar Khandre (Bhalki), A Krishnappa (Vijayanagar), Priya Krishna (Govindrajnagar) and R V Devaraj (Chickpet) met the chief minister.
Besides, a group of supporters of Textiles Minister Baburao Chinchansur have submitted a memorandum to the chief minister urging him not to remove their leader from the Cabinet.
4,000 supporters
Nyamagouda said about 4,000 of his supporters from his constituency had come to Bengaluru to urge the chief minister to make him a minister. “I am a senior legislator and I have contributed immensely to the party. I have also worked as a Union minister. I am hopeful that the chief minister will give me an opportunity to serve in his council of ministers,” he added.
Sources in the party said a number of aspirants were planning to go to Delhi next week for lobbying. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh is scheduled to return to Delhi from America after September 22.
I’m not ascetic: Parameshwara
Parameshwara told reporters he was not an ascetic not to aspire for a ministerial post. “I have successfully served as the State party president for five years. I am one of the longest-serving State party presidents. My term will end next month. I am ready to take up any responsibility given by the party,” he added.