Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jan 13: Putting an end to the riddle as to whether Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa will attend the World Economic Forum’s Global Economic Summit in Davos, the State Government has finally made it clear that the BJP Chief Minister will indeed attend the summit being held from January 21 to 24.

Awaiting the green signal from the BJP national high command, especially Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president cum Home Minister Amit Shah for his plans to expand the State Cabinet in order to accommodate the 11 ``disqualified’’ Congress and JD(S) MLAs upon their re-election on BJP ticket, Yediyurappa had planned to cancel his foreign visit.

However, apparently on the nudge of the party high command in order not embarrass the Modi regime by skipping the Davos Summit, Yediyurappa has now decided to fly to Davos.

However, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, the Chief Minister confirmed his foreign visit.

It is believed that Yediyurapa has been told by the Central leaders that abruptly skipping such events being attended by global leaders would send a negative message.

The chief minister asserted that he would complete the process of ministerial expansion before embarking upon the Davos visit.

Yediyurappa’s statement about ministerial expansion is being seen as an effort to placate the 11 defectors who are said to be upset over the delay in giving them ministerial berths though a month has passed ever since they won the Assembly by-polls on BJP ticket.

He sought to deny media reports that he had not been given appointment by the party high command to discuss about ministerial expansion, the chief minister claimed that actually Party National President Amit Shah had invited him to New Delhi today.

However, Yediyurappa explained that he could not attend it as he had to participate in a pre-scheduled event in Raichur on Monday.

He said he would try to meet Shah in New Delhi on Tuesday and would cancel all his pre-scheduled events if Shah agrees to meet him. Otherwise, he would meet the national president during his visit to the state on January 17 and 18 to address a pro-CAA convention, the chief minister said.

He assured the defectors of keeping his promise made to them and asked them not to bother about rumours that the ministerial expansion may be delayed even further.