Two days after Karnataka’s Minister for Excise HY Meti resigned over his alleged involvement in a sex scandal, the controversy is seen as a setback for the Siddaramaiah government that has already had two of its ministers in soup in the last few months, the process to fill his berth has now begun.
Even as the Chief Minister appears to be in a damage control mode by ordering a detailed probe into the allegations following Meti’s exit, a larger concern to fill the gap the minister has left in the 34-member cabinet is being addressed.
Many MLCs have already started lobbying for the ministerial berth, reports The Times of India.
With Siddharamaiah having inducted Meti into the cabinet four months ago following pressure from Kuruba leaders, the question now arises whether an MLC from the community will be given the ministerial berth.
MLC HM Revanna, a close aide of Siddaramiah was quoted as saying that the new minister would invariably belong to CM's community. While Revanna's aspiration for the ministerial berth is no secret, the report quotes unnamed sources as saying that his chances are rather slim.
“Siddaramaiah would opt for a person from North Karnataka rather than Revanna, who is seen as his close associate,” a source said.
According to the report, Badami MLA BB Chimmanakatti and Hosadurga MLA BG Govindappa are the others likely to be chosen. It is also being reported that the CM would prefer not choose a minister from Bengaluru that already has 5 cabinet ministers.
However, the report further states that the CM may even decide to keep the excise portfolio for himself.