Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 7: Chief minister B S Yediyurappa, has undertaken the exercise of ministry expansion after six months since he assumed office. He still has not distributed six vacancies. This has been done perhaps to keep the disgruntled aspirants satisfied, but in all likelihood, the next ministry expansion might not happen earlier than six months from now.

BJP sources say that Yediyurappa has not filled six remaining vacancies in the ministry for numerous reasons. In July, after the government completes one year in office, he might reorganize the ministry. It is said that Yediyurappa's plan has been approved by the national leaders of the party. As such, the loyalists who are unhappy at the importance given to turn coats will have to wait till July to become ministers.

Some of the unhappy leaders may be made heads of boards and corporations but those who are stubborn on becoming minsters have to wait longer. Out of the six vacancies, the original BJP activists will be able to get only three posts as three persons namely R Muniratna from Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Pratap Gowda Patil from Maski and R Shankar from Ranebennur who has to be made council member, will have to be made minsters once the issues concerning them are addressed.

In the meantime, even though Ramesh Jarkiholi has been seeking to have water resources department which D K Shivakumar had with him earlier, he may not be given this ministry, sources say, as experts in the field are needed as big projects are under way. Hence, Yediyurappa may retain that department with himself.

Ministerial aspirants Umesh Katti and Mahesh Kumathalli, said they are unhappy at not being made ministers. They said they do not know why they are left out and said they will continue with the party and hope that they will become minsters soon. H Vishwanath said he is happy that his friends are made minsters. Araga Jnanendra said he will speak to national leaders of the party as he is dissatisfied at having been overlooked.