Most Ministers attend CM’s dinner meeting; speak one-on-one with him

Except for four or five Ministers, all others attended a dinner meeting hosted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah at his residence ‘Cauvery’ on Monday.

Though the meeting created a buzz about a possible Cabinet reshuffle, Ministers who attended it did not confirm news of any recast of the Ministry. It was reported that the Chief Minister was keen on undertaking a reshuffle to mark the completion of half of the government’s five-year term in November.

As more details of the meeting are expected to emerge on Tuesday, sources said the Chief Minister held one-to-one talks with Ministers during the meeting.

Local body polls

Speaking to reporters, Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said issues related to elections to the corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and rural local bodies were discussed at the meeting. While elections would be held for the Bengaluru civic bodies in February-March, he said elections to rural local bodies would be held either simultaneously or after elections to the civic bodies of Bengaluru.

Labour Minister Santhosh Lad said the Chief Minister held a one-to-one meeting with ministers and discussed developments in the department. Mr Lad said the Chief Minister has been holding breakfast and dinner meetings often and used to discuss various developments in the State.

DKS attends

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, sources said, attended the meeting but left early.

Ministers such as Laxmi Hebbalkar, N.S. Boseraju, Mankala Vaidya, and Satish Jarkiholi did not attend the meeting, and they had reportedly informed the Chief Minister about their prior engagements.