Amidst displeasure expressed by some Congress MLAs and flak from civil society activists, Congress MLAs D K Shiva Kumar and R Roshan Baig were sworn in as cabinet ministers here on Wednesday. Both Shiva Kumar and Baig were administered the oath of office and secrecy by governor H R Bhardwaj at Raj Bhavan.
While the developments have evoked only negative responses, Siddaramaiah himself is said to be unhappy over the issue. He is said to have shared his unhappiness with some senior ministers and legislators whom he met before the swearing-in. He reportedly said the expansion has given an opportunity for the opposition and his detractors to attack him.
However, on the sidelines of the ceremony, Siddaramaiah denied that the expansion – done on the high command’s diktat – had given rise to discontent in the party. “Both should have become ministers long back,’’ he said.
- - - Freedom fighter H S Doreswamy has questioned Shiva Kumar and Baig’s induction into the cabinet when they are facing several charges. Doreswamy, who had written to Siddaramaiah when was forming the ministry to keep “tainted” persons out, on Wednesday said he would take up the issue again with the CM.
Writer U R Ananthamurthy said: “I like Siddaramaiah very much. The high command seems to have not learnt any lessons even after losing assembly elections in four states. Corruption is an issue.’’
For the full text of the report in the ToI, click here.
For all of RaGa's pious pronouncements, it doesn't look like the Congress can change its ways easily. With considerable resolve, the CM off-loaded a tainted Santosh Lad, but now to be on-loaded with these with far worse images, obviously by the High Command. And, if he is maintaining a silence over other burning issues like the KPSC scam (check this), obviously again, it's the High Command that is holding him back.
Perhaps then it's time for Sri Siddaramaiah to switch to AAP, before he loses face before the likes of Sri H S Doreswamy, Sri U R Ananthamurthy, and many others like them. Congress has very little future anyway.
Muralidhar Rao
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