Central Leaders Direct CM To Rein In On Ministerial Aspirants From Taking To Pressure Tactics

Some of the supporters of ministerial aspirants like former minister Zameer Ahmed Khan took to the streets, demanding that their leaders become ministers in Shivakumar’s cabinet. Zameer Ahmed Khan served as Housing Minister in the previous government headed by Siddaramaiah. Hanging banners in favor of their leaders to enter the cabinet, rallying behind the leaders to put pressure on the central leaders. Some expressed their feelings to the media to get into the cabinet.

On the day Shivakumar took oath as Chief Minister on June 3, 13 MLAs, including Ramalinga Reddy, Priyank Kharge, MB Patil, Eshwar Khandre, KJ George, KH Muniyappa, UT Khader, were sworn in as cabinet ministers. The cabinet would be expanded after two weeks from June 18 when the cabinet ministers were appointed to Shivakumar’s ministry.

Now that the deadline set by the central leaders has passed, ministerial aspirants willing to join the cabinet/ministry have made attempts to pressure the central leaders to induct them into the cabinet. However, there was no significant progress in filling vacant positions.

Taking note of the pressure tactics of the ministerial candidates, the central leaders asked Shivakumar to silence the candidates. Central leaders are said to have thought that it would be a better idea for the Prime Minister to issue a warning to ministerial aspirants instead of warning the candidates through the in-charge Karnataka party. Central leaders felt that if the Prime Minister warned them, the chances of the candidates returning with their demands would be greatly reduced.