Former CM Siddharamaiah pacifies Veerashaiva-Lingayat Cong. MLAs

Bengaluru:  With Veerashaiva-Lingayat MLAs elected from the Congress becoming apprehensive over getting appropriate number of Cabinet berths in the yet to be formed H.D. Kumaraswamy (HDK)-led Congress-JD(S) coalition Government, former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah met the Community Legislators at a private hotel in city yesterday, where Congress MLAs have been staying after their return from Hyderabad ahead of Saturday’s Floor Test.

Siddharamaiah, who visited the Hotel, spoke in length to the agitated Veerashaiva-Lingayat Congress leaders and asked them to be patient.

On Monday, during the course of Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting, the community MLAs had demanded a Deputy  Chief Minister’s (Dy.CM) post and five Cabinet berths for the community, it is learnt.

Also, some MLAs, especially from Vijayapura district, had also warned Siddharamaiah against making former Minister M.B. Patil as Dy.CM or a Minister, accusing him (M.B. Patil) of trying to defeat them in the just concluded Assembly polls. They had also warned of quitting their seats if M.B. Patil is made the Dy.CM, it is also learnt.

This post was published on May 23, 2018 6:38 pm