Bengaluru, 15 November

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said he had placed a proposal for inducting a woman member into the state Cabinet before the Congress leadership in Delhi and would discuss the matter when summoned by the party high command.

He said he would travel to Delhi on Monday to attend the release of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's autobiography and would return to Bengaluru the same night.

"I don't know whether it will be possible to discuss tomorrow, but I have already placed the proposal before the leadership in Delhi. They said they would call me. There is a need, I will do it. I will discuss it at the appropriate time," Shivakumar said in response to a question about whether he would discuss the issue with the high command during tomorrow's visit.

Last week, Shivakumar said a woman minister would be inducted into the state Cabinet before the next session of the state legislature.

The Winter Session of the Karnataka Legislature will be held from December 2 to December 11 at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.

Pressure is mounting on the CM to fill one of the two vacant berths with a woman minister.

Two months after assuming charge as the Chief Minister, Shivakumar expanded his Cabinet on August 3, by inducting 19 ministers, bringing the total strength to 33 against the Cabinet size of 34. However, two berths are currently vacant in the Cabinet following the resignation of B Nagendra, who was facing corruption charges.

When asked about arrangements at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi ahead of the forthcoming legislature session and reported management problems, the CM said Speaker G S Patil would look into the matter.

"The Speaker will take care of it. I will ask the DC (Deputy Commissioner) to look into -- what the problems are," he said.

Regarding the Mekedatu project and opposition to Karnataka's position from Tamil Nadu, including from that state's Congress president B Manickam Tagore, Shivakumar said he had already raised the Mekedatu issue with the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We have to respect the law of this country. Whatever the court says, we have to implement it. Politically, they (Tamil Nadu) may oppose it, and they are free to express their views. Tamil Nadu has a big legal team and let them understand the legal position. We are not going to stop anyone from voicing their opposition, but we have to do our job," he said.

Asked about his interactions with the prime minister and whether the bonding had become a source of discomfort within the state BJP, Shivakumar said he believed in maintaining the dignity of constitutional positions and working with the Centre on development.

"I have to give the PM respect for his position, just as he has to respect the CM. I had said earlier too that we could fight politically during elections but should work together on development. We will continue to do that," he said.

On the pending announcement of bypoll for Hiriyur assembly constituency, Shivakumar said the wait was on for the Election Commission's announcement, while continuing its preparations.

He said he would personally participate in the 'Praja Seva' programme at Hiriyur on November 21 and had directed officials to make the necessary arrangements.

"I was expecting the elections to be announced, but it has not happened yet. We have got time. I will go and listen to people's grievances," he said.