Bangalore: The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is likely to expand his 6 months old Cabinet on Wednesday, the first day of the New Year. According to sources, he is inducting 6 time MLA and Congress strongman DK Shivakumar and 5 time MLA and a prominent Muslim leader R Roshan Baig into the Cabinet. Later in the day, Siddaramaiah is meeting Governor HR Bhardwaj at the Raj Bhawan to request him to administer oath of office to these two new ministers.
Both Shivakumar and Roshan Baig have served as ministers in previous governments in the state. Siddaramaiah did not induct them after he became the chief minister in May 2013 on the grounds that top public intellectuals in the state had opposed their induction because of their alleged role in massive corruption scams.
Siddaramaiah himself had described these two as 'tainted' and had kept them out of his Cabinet. Shivakumar is facing illegal mining and land scam related charges. Roshan Baig had to resign from the SM Krishna government after his name was figured in the multi-state Telgi fake stamp paper scam in 2003.
According to sources, the Congress high command has cleared their names and they will be sworn in as Cabinet ministers. The opposition BJP and JDS are describing it as Congress's New Year gift to the people of Karnataka.
Many Congress leaders are also opposing the induction of Shivakumar and Roshan Baig into the Cabinet.
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