Cabinet expansion possible after budget session, says Saleem Ahmed

Hubballi: Legislative council chief whip Saleem Ahmed said on Sunday that there is a possibility of cabinet expansion after the budget session in the state, and that the high command will take the final decision.Speaking to reporters here, Ahmed said a request was submitted to the high command that about 50% of ministers should be assigned to organisational work with the aim of strengthening the party organisation. He said there was also an opinion within the party that those positions should be given to newcomers.Ahmed clarified that there was no crisis in the party and said that the statements made by some MLAs, including Yathindra Siddaramaiah, were only their personal opinions. He said chief minister Siddaramiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar also said that the high command's decision was final.He said that there was democracy in the party and everyone had freedom of speech, but the BJP was running a Hitler-style regime.Ahmed said that he was an aspirant for the ministerial post and said that minorities did not get ministerial posts in the Kittur Karnataka region from past 22 years. He said that he was hopeful that they will get an opportunity this time.He said local body elections were likely to be held in April-May, and said, "We do not have faith in the Election Commission. The Election Commission has turned into a BJP commission." He demanded that the elections should be held through ballot papers only.