The Cabinet expansion scheduled for June 12 has been postponed as the state has announced three-day mourning following the death of Jnanpith awardee, director-actor Girish Karnad
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has postponed the expansion of Cabinet following the death of veteran actor-director, theatre person, Jnanpith awardee, Girish Karnad.
The Cabinet expansion was scheduled for June 12, but as the state has announced three-day mourning following the death of Girish Karnad the expansion will be delayed.
Karnad passed away due to multi-organ failure at his Lavelle Road residence in Bengaluru at 6.30 am on June 10. The 81-year-old actor was suffering from a respiratory disorder.
The date for Cabinet expansion was fixed after much deliberation. Leaders including Siddaramaiah had clarified that only three vacant seats will be filled, and no new portfolios will be formed.
With veteran leaders of Congress including Roshan Baig, Ramalinga Reddy and HK Patil slamming the party and expressing their resentment, the coalition government decided to expand the Cabinet with three seats; two from JD(S) and one from Congress.
Accordingly, chief minister HD Kumaraswamy met Governor Vajubahi Rudabhai Vala, who set the date of cabinet expansion to June 12.
However, with names doing rounds for the Cabinet post, there was speculation of dissidence in the party and AICC General Secretary, KC Venugopal, who is also the Karnataka in-charge of the party was set to rush to the state.
But with the decision to postpone the Cabinet expansion, his arrival in the city too has been postponed.
Meanwhile, JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda has rushed to New Delhi to meet Congress leader Sonia Gandhi and AICC president Rahul Gandhi to discuss the development of the political scenario in Karnataka.
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