Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, R. Ashoka, criticized the Congress leadership in Karnataka for the delay in expanding the state cabinet. Ashoka raised concerns about internal power struggles and the impact on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections, suggesting these issues were causing the delay.
Questioning the rationale behind Chief Minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar’s plan to take oath with only 14 ministers, Ashoka highlighted the prolonged delay in forming a complete cabinet. He speculated whether the Congress high command was apprehensive that a full cabinet formation before the June 18 Rajya Sabha elections might lead to discontent or even defections among its legislators.
Ashoka expressed frustration over the halt in Karnataka’s administrative activities due to prolonged negotiations within the Congress for power-sharing arrangements. He emphasized the need for governance to take precedence over internal political discussions, which he believed were hindering the state’s progress.
Critiquing the continuous consultations between Karnataka Congress leaders and the party’s central leadership in New Delhi, Ashoka urged for a swift resolution to the cabinet expansion issue. He emphasized that the people of Karnataka voted for effective governance and development, not for prolonged internal political wrangling within the Congress.
