Appointment to boards, corporations soon after Diwali: Digvijay Singh

Bangalore, Oct 16:

general secretary

on Thursday said cabinet expansion is the Chief Minister's prerogative but appointments to state-owned boards and corporations will be made soon after Diwali in Karnataka.

"Cabinet expansion has to be Chief Minister's prerogative there is no time frame set for the cabinet expansion but for boards and corporations we would like to do it immediately after Diwali," Singh, who is in-charge of party affairs in Karnataka, told reporters here. Siddaramaiah has been under pressure on the issues of cabinet expansion and appointment to boards and corporations.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Asian Arab Chamber of Commerce event here, Singh said he had a meeting with the Chief Minister and KPCC president G Parameshwara and discussed, among other things, appointment to boards and corporations.

"The policy is simple that the post of chairman, vice chairman would be proposed for the boards and corporations of only those which are not in losses, and the names would be proposed by the state leadership, they will have discussions with all and after that we will give the clearance from AICC," he said.

'No co-ordination issue between the Chief Minister and the KPCC president'

AICC will not even take one day to clear provided that the state leadership is ready with names, he said. He said the party would not like to appoint MLA's or people who have had the opportunity to contest the last election but failed. On cabinet expansion, he said "it is the right of the Chief Minister, whenever he wants to do and whomever he wants to induct, it is his right."

Asked about former MLA's and defeated candidates demanding appointment to boards and corporations, Singh said "we will engage them in the party work the guidelines that we are drawing up, we will give opportunity to those who have been denied the opportunity."

He said there is no co-ordination issue between the Chief Minister and the KPCC president and both are working together. Asked about Parameshwara's reported intentions to become Deputy Chief Minister, Singh said "he doesn't want to become, his supporters want him to become."

PTI