Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah to meet Sonia Gandhi next week

New Delhi, May 14: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is expected to hold a crucial meeting here next week with Congress President Sonia Gandhi to discuss the state Cabinet reshuffle issue.

Siddaramaiah, who completed three years in office last week, is under pressure from section of MLAs to effect a Cabinet reshuffle by dropping "non-performing" ministers and inducting new faces. "The Chief Minister is visiting New Delhi on May 20.

He will meet Sonia Gandhi to discuss the state Cabinet reshuffle issue," a source in the CM's office said.

Last month in Mysuru, the Chief Minister had announced that the Cabinet reshuffle would be done within this month. He had also said he was keen to give opportunity to youngsters in the Cabinet. "Yardstick is giving opportunity for new people. Already three years have been completed, there are aspirants, there is need to give opportunity to them," he had said.

Siddaramiah, who had planned to reshuffle his Cabinet by April-end, had postponed it due to "severe" drought in the state.

Karnataka is reeling under the "worst" drought in recent times and the government has already declared 137 taluks as "drought-hit".

He had earlier said he would go to New Delhi to discuss Cabinet reshuffle, only after visiting drought-hit regions in the state and once the situation improves.

In October, Siddaramaiah had expanded his ministry by inducting four members, including the state Pradesh Congress Committee chief G Parameshwara as Home Minister.

PTI