Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Aug 16: Minister Jagadish Shettar has been insistent that Reddy Brothers should be accommodated in the state cabinet at any cost. Parleys held by BJP state unit in-charge, Dhrmendra Pradhan, who was in the city to take part in a programme organized by Yuva Morcha, with different factions of the BJP failed to convince the group led by Eshwarappa to let go of this demand.

After discussions with the Chief Minister and others, it was decided to handle the issue at the core committee meeting. This affectively means that the ministry expansion will get delayed further.

Speaking to reporters at Shimoga, state BJP president, K S Eshwarappa, said that three ministerial berths have been set aside to accommodate Reddys. So far, the pressure tactics employed by Reddys to bag ministerial positions have failed because of the stand taken by the central leadership that tainted legislators should not be chosen as ministers, and because of which decision, Yeddyurappa lost his seat. Eshwarappa said that legal opinion about the possibility of swearing in the Reddy camp either immediately or some time later, has been sought.

For the remaining seven seats out of the 34 in the state ministry, camps loyal to Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa respectively have been vying with each other to get lion’s share. The Reddy camp it appears is not prepared to the offer made to it to nominate candidates of their choice to the cabinet. Instead, they want the posts for themselves, which has become a headache for the party leaders to handle.