Udupi, Jun 17 (The Hindu): President of the State unit of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) D.V. Sadananda Gowda said on Tuesday that a minor reshuffle of the State Cabinet would take place soon.
Addressing presspersons after the inauguration of his (MP’s) office here, Mr. Gowda said that former MLA V. Somanna would most likely be inducted into the Cabinet. This would lead to a minor reshuffle but not a major one. He refused to divulge any information on the Ministers who would be dropped during the reshuffle.
He said that the government was likely to ask the incumbent chairpersons of all corporations and boards to resign from their posts in three to four days. “The government wants to appoint active persons with innovative ideas to these posts. The new appointment to all the boards and corporations would be done at one go,” he added.
‘Expect stern action’
On the dissidence within the BJP, Mr. Gowda said that there were only differences of opinion among some leaders. There was no scope of groupism in the party. If any leader had problems, he should discuss it in the party forum instead of rushing to the media. The Central leadership had taken a stern view on this issue and about the earlier outbursts of the Energy Minister K.S. Eshwarappa. “I will take stern action if anyone crosses the limit,” he said.
Asked if BJP MLAs Belur Gopalkrishna and M.P. Renukacharya had not crossed the limits by making their displeasure about the party’s functioning public, Mr. Gowda said that he did not feel so. In reply to another question, he said that the Reddy brothers wanted development of Bellary district. Hence, the government had allotted Rs. 26 crore for it.
Reasons given
Regarding the removal of Varthur Prakash, Chairman of Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, from his post, he said Prakash had given contradictory statements on the leadership of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa.
This had embarrassed the government, and this had led to his ouster. When it was pointed out that even the Women and Child Welfare Minister P.M. Narendra Swamy had said that Congress leader Siddaramaiah was his leader, Mr. Gowda said that he had not read Mr. Swamy’s statement.
Talk
Since there was public discussion about the Chairperson of Karnataka Women’s Development Corporation, Shruti, the government had removed her, Mr. Gowda added.
Home Minister V.S. Acharya, MLAs Raghupati Bhat and Lalaji Mendon and MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary were present.