The Karnataka Cabinet was revamped on Saturday with 14 "non-performing" ministers being replaced by 13 new ones at a swearing-in ceremony at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru, reported NDTV. The decision is believed to be part of a larger plan with the 2018 Assembly elections in the state in mind.
"It is not about one man becoming a minister. It is not that my son is a minister, so I am happy. The party must win in 2018 – that is the aim," said Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge whose son is among the new ministers inducted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
The list of Cabinet ministers includes Tanveer Sait, Kagodu Thimmappa, Ramesh Kumar, Basavaraj Raya Reddy, HY Meti, SS Mallikarjun, MR Seetharam and Santosh Lad Ramesh Jarkiholi. The new Ministers of State are Priyank Kharge, Rudrappa Lamani, Eshwar Khandre and Pramod Madhwaraj.
The decision, that was initiated after thorough discussion with party chief Sonia Gandhi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, led to widespread protests in the state. Supporters of those who were dropped blocked roads and pelted stones disrupting traffic movement on the Bengaluru-Mysuru highway. In Bidar district, party workers called a strike and damaged government buses, reported The Hindu.
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