Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 22: Sources say that there have been efforts to put through expansion of the state ministry on December 3, but chairman of the coalition government's coordination committee, Siddaramaiah, is firmly of the opinion that ministry expansion is not necessary at present.

Siddaramaiah feels that expanding the ministry at this stage will stir a hornet's nest. "Many aspirants from north Karnataka have been hankering to become ministers. If they do not get enough representation during the December 3 exercise, their dissatisfaction might spill into the open. It might affect the Belagavi session of the assembly. This might provide BJP, which is trying to floor the government on the issue of sugarcane growers, another opportunity to put the government in tight spot. Therefore, it would be advisable to postpone ministry expansion for the present," he feels.

But Deve Gowda is of the opinion that if the ministry expansion is withheld, the ministerial aspirants might inflict more damage. He feels that BJP is trying to launch Operation Lotus during the Belagavi session and their efforts will get boost if the aspirants are kept waiting. Therefore, let us complete this exercise at the earliest, he has been asserting, sources said.

In all probability, a final decision might be taken at the coordination committee meeting scheduled to be held during this week, after which the decision will get the nod of Congress national president, Rahul Gandhi.