Karnataka cabinet expansion on December 22 unlikely, here is why

By yacoob md | First Published Dec 6, 2018, 4:25 PM IST

Given the superstitious nature of HD Deve Gowda and HD Kumaraswamy (HDK), the coalition government headed by HDK will not be able to expand the cabinet as they may use 'Dhanur Masa' as an excuse of it being an inauspicious time and will continue its 'delay tactics' at least until general elections to save the government from collapsing under brewing rebellion within the coalition. Noted astrologer Dr S K Jain has also warned that in case the government does not delay, the government will sink.

The HD Kumaraswamy headed coalition who face rebellion every day from Jarkiholi brothers is once again in trouble following dissatisfaction of Congress legislators like Hoskote MLA MTB Nagaraj, Chikkaballapur MLA Dr Sudhakar and a few others over the delay in cabinet expansion.

Noted astrologer Dr SK Jain also has warned Deve Gowda and his family that in case the cabinet expansion is not postponed, there are chances of the government collapsing. "According to scriptures and our traditions, we use to start all our harvesting and other activities after January 14 on Sankranti. This will ensure prosperity, this is one reason why cabinet expansion may not happen on December 22 as it is an inauspicious month that will continue till January 15.”

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The sources close to the JD(S) and HD Deve Gowda say, although their alliance partner, the Congress through its leader Siddaramaiah announced that the expansion will be done on December 22, it is unlikely to happen as HD Deve Gowda will raise an objection on account of it coinciding with 'Dhanur Masa' and deem it as an inauspicious time.

"The dhanur masa will start from December 15 and will end on January 15, during this month, the Hindus will not take up any major work or projects and this may apply to cabinet expansion. HD Kumaraswamy's administration should be impacted. However, the expansion will be taken up later," said a senior JD(S) leader.

The BJP seizing the opportunity commented that the government may collapse any time and that is the main reason for stalling the cabinet expansion as the present rebellion from Congress MLAs will end their rule. The BJP camp says, although Congress leaders have announced that there will be a cabinet expansion, they will not follow through, as they are at the mercy of HD Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy who are known for their superstitious beliefs.

"Dhanur masa is also called shoonya masa and we know HD Deve Gowda will not allow such activity to take place during the inauspicious month as it will mount to trouble for the administration. Many leaders from Congress also want power but there are only six vacancies in the cabinet. Hence, instead of expanding cabinet, the government will only delay." said Tejaswini Gowda, the BJP Spokesperson.

The Congress leaders who also agree on the fact of the possibility of cabinet delay opine that the expansion of cabinet will happen for sure but cannot fix a date and time.

"In the subcontinent, leaders are not hesitant about consulting an astrologer. In few cases, a minister may not come for a swearing-in if the scheduled time is considered inauspicious. They choose time and date according to their convenience. As of now, our leaders say that the expansion is on December 22 and we will have to wait till then," said Kengal Renu, the Congress Spokesperson.

Agreeing with Renu, MZ Ali, Joint Secretary of the JD(S) says that as they are a coalition government, they will take the right decision at right time.

"We are not as superstitious as the BJP is. R Ashok says Yeddyurappa's kundli indicates he will be CM again, but he and others do not tolerate Yeddyurappa and his son's growth. Instead of waiting to engineer defection among the Congress and the JD(S) MLA's they should sort out their differences," Ali retorted.

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