7 Ministers to be inducted in cabinet expansion in September'

The three-month-old Congress-JDS coalition government would be expanded in the third week of September with the induction of seven ministers, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said today.

The Congress heavyweight, who heads the coordination committee of the two parties, stated this to reporters after after the committee meeting.

"We have taken a decision to expand the cabinet in the third week of September. Six people from our (Congress) side and one from JD(S) will be included in the cabinet,"he said.

Simultaneously, chairpersons to various boards and corporations would be appointed in the third week of September, Siddaramaiah said.

"The first preference will be given to the MLAs and then the party workers will be given a chance. We cannot fulfill the aspirations of many MLAs who want to become ministers.

Hence we are making them chairpersons of boards and corporations," the Congress leader said.

He said decisions have to be taken on 30 posts, of which 20 would be given to Congress leaders and the rest to JD(S)