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Bengaluru, Oct 13 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that there is no connection between the dinner meeting held for cabinet ministers on Monday and speculations about a possible cabinet reshuffle within the Congress government in the state.
He was talking to the media in Bagalkot.
Siddaramaiah clarified that there was nothing special in today’s (Monday) dinner meeting and it had no connection with the cabinet reshuffle in the state.
Referring to the change in the chief ministerial post in Karnataka, he said there will be no “revolution” in November.
The Congress-led state government is completing half its term in November this year and supporters of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are claiming that he will become the Chief Minister of Karnataka for the remaining term.
Reacting to Shivakumar’s statement that any change within the state leadership depends on the decision of the Congress high command, Siddaramaiah said the opinion of senior party leaders and MLAs is important.
He said that there should be a consensus among the Congress MLAs along with the blessings of the party high command.
Commenting on the question whether members of the Valmiki community will be given ministerial posts, Siddaramaiah said some Congress MLAs have resigned from their posts and the state government has not removed them.
He assured that the possibility of giving representation to the Valmiki community will be considered during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Speaking about the Krishna Upper Bank project, he said that adequate grant will be allocated to complete it within the next four years.
Talking about the rumors surrounding the dinner meet, state Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said, “We are expecting a good dinner menu at the Chief Minister’s residence. There will be discussions but I do not know the agenda of the dinner meet. Matters related to the state and the country will be discussed. I am also curious. It is a cordial meeting and the media will also know what was discussed in the dinner meeting.”
Amid the leadership row in the state, Siddaramaiah is set to host a dinner meeting for Congress ministers in Bengaluru late on Monday night.
This political development assumes significance, coming at a time of speculation of change of leadership in the state and strong rumors of cabinet reshuffle.
The dinner is being organized at 7 pm at the Chief Minister’s official residence – Kaveri in Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah has invited all his cabinet ministers and several ministers have openly confirmed their presence.
However, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar has not yet reacted to the political developments.
–IANS
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