No place for first-time MLAs in cabinet, says Siddaramaiah

Mangaluru/Bengaluru: A day after deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar supported the idea of inducting new blood into the cabinet, chief minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday said the govt has decided not to appoint first-time legislators as ministers. Siddaramaiah was responding to queries on first-time MLAs writing to senior functionaries, including Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge, seeking representation when — and if — the cabinet is reshuffled.
On Tuesday, Shivakumar backed the demand for generational change, saying, "The party needs fresh blood and new thinking. The old guard can't stay forever." In a joint representation by several legislators to Congress' high command and state brass, including Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, they demanded that at least five first-time MLAs be inducted as ministers. "As you are aware, the people of Karnataka elected 38 members to the legislative assembly from Congress for the first time and thereby sent out a clear message that they want to see new young faces in the legislature," the MLAs said in their letter. "The mixture of young and the experienced, is always a right balance to strive and we are sure that your good self with the visionary leadership, make sure this is done in Karnataka. We therefore request you to ensure that at least five first time MLAs are accommodated as ministers in Karnataka, during the reshuffle (sic)." M Veerappa Moily, former CM, said merit should guide ministerial appointments and cautioned against lobbying. "We were all newcomers at one point," he said. "When I entered politics at the age of 22, Devaraj Urs was the chief minister. Even at that time, new faces were given opportunities. Therefore, it is not morally right to say new representatives should not be given a chance... If there is merit, anyone can become a minister... It is however not possible to become a minister through lobbying."