Karnataka Cabinet expansion: D K Shivakumar likely to get important berth

D K Shivakumar is likely to get an important portfolio in the Karnataka Cabinet. The new set of ministers in the JD(S)-Congress government will be sworn in at 2.12 pm today. According to sources, at least 12 Congress MLAs would take oath while in the JD(S) camp it is expected to be 9.

The Congress and JD(S) had agreed upon 22 and 12 berths respectively. Sources said Rahul Gandhi held long deliberations with former chief minister Siddharamaiah, deputy chief minister G Parameswara and senior party leaders D K Shivakumar and Dinesh Gundu Rao, along with AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka affairs KC Venugopal.

Though there was no official word from the Congress, Gandhi is learnt to have given his nod to the list of around 12 ministers which includes Shivakumar who is likely to get an important portfolio.

Gandhi met the Karnataka leaders for over an hour and gave final shape to the list of ministers, while according equitable representation to all sections and regions.

Sources said some portfolios may remain vacant on both sides to douse any discord in the two parties.

The lone BSP legislator in Karnataka, N Mahesh, will be a part of the cabinet expansion and will be given a key portfolio.

JDS secretary general Danish Ali told PTI, "We will give due importance to our pre-poll ally, the BSP by giving its lone MLA a ministerial berth."

He also disclosed that BSP supremo Ms Mayawati has deputed its senior leader Satish Chandra Misra to attend the cabinet expansion function tomorrow. This is the first time that the BSP will be a part of the government outside of Uttar Pradesh.

Danish Ali was the key pointsman in negotiating an alliance with both the BSP and then the Congress.