Will discuss induction of woman Minister with high command: Karnataka CM

The discussion on Cabinet expansion to fill the remaining two berths appears to be gaining traction again, especially with a little over a fortnight left for the commencement of the Winter Session of the legislature in Belagavi. The absence of a woman minister in the Cabinet has been a particular point of contention.

While the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar was expanded in August, two Cabinet berths remain vacant, one following the resignation of B. Nagendra over charges of corruption, and another that has not been filled at all.

On Sunday, the Chief Minister said: “I have brought the matter of inducting a woman into the Cabinet to the attention of the Congress high command in Delhi. I cannot say whether the process will happen tomorrow, but they have told me that they will call me to Delhi to discuss it. This is something that needs to be done and we will definitely see it through.”

The Chief Minister is leaving for Delhi on Monday to attend the launch of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir, Belonging: A Journey of Love.

The task of inducting a woman has been hanging fire since the Cabinet expansion in August. Though the list of legislators to be accommodated in the Cabinet, released by the All India Congress Committee, included the name of Member of the Legislative Council A.V. Gayatri Shanthegowda, her name disappeared when a fresh list was announced after former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah opposed her candidature.

Party sources said that though the name of E. Annapoorna Tukaram had come up for serious discussion earlier, a section of leaders is opposed to her candidature as she is a first-time legislator. “There is a suggestion within the party to accommodate a woman without caste and regional considerations. There is pressure from women legislators on the party leadership too.”