Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, May 28: The Congress leaders, who were bracing up for the ministry expansion to happen in a couple of days, are disappointed. As Congress national president, Rahul Gandhi, went abroad on Sunday, May 27 with mother Sonia Gandhi for her medical checkup, the ministry expansion that was under discussion stands deferred by at least a week. Rahul is expected to come back on Friday. This development has also come as a dampener for legislators who were hoping to become ministers.
The Congress leaders had held a round of discussions with Rahul Gandhi on Saturday about who could be made ministers. The final list was proposed to be prepared during the proposed meeting on Sunday. But the sudden departure of the national president of the party has made them wait for a week, it is gathered.
Rahul Gandhi announced his departure on Twitter, taking a jibe at 'BJP troll army': "Will be out of India for a few days, accompanying Sonia ji to her annual medical check up. To my friends in the BJP social media troll army: don’t get too worked up...I'll be back soon!"
Leaders from Karnataka did not get a chance to hold second round of discussions with Rahul on Sunday as planned, however, sources said that many leaders within the Congress were already aware of Rahul's plans. Party sources said that the next meeting with the national president would be held on Saturday and Sunday after which power sharing formula and individuals picked for different portfolios would be announced.
Although the party meeting considered names of several aspirants, the high command could not complete the list. It is said that Siddaramaiah, Parameshwar, D K Shivakumar and Mallikarjun have been insisting on giving ministerial candidates to people listed by them separately.
As Rahul Gandhi is not available at present at New Delhi, deputy chief minister, Parameshwar, stayed in the residence of Congress party in-charge of Karnataka, K C Venugopal. The leaders would finalize the list after discussions with Venugopal. Aspirants like H K Patil, Laxmi Hebbalkar, R V Deshpande, Ishwar Khandre and H M Revanna, had reached New Delhi before other leaders and made a beeline for Venugopal's residence to put forth their case for becoming ministers. Reportedly, former union minister and MP, K H Muniyappa, is also insisting that this daughter, Roopa Shashidhar, a first time MLA, should be made the minister. Some prominent leaders have warned of staging revolt and leaving the party if they are not made ministers, it is said.
It is said that finance ministry is being eyed by both Kumaraswamy and Parameshwara. Son of Deve Gowda, Revanna, has been demanding PWD and revenue departments but he might be given one of these two portfolios, sources said.