Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 8: Even as most of the legislators who were earlier disqualified joined the state ministry, the pressure brought by old timers to honour their demands seems to have worked with the national leadership of the BJP. There is expectation of further expansion of the cabinet within a few days.

As per plans, three 'original' BJP MLAs were to be administered oath of office along with ten others who joined the ministry. It is reliably learnt that the high command has instructed Yediyurappa to either fill all the remaining six vacancies or fill four seats and retain two seats for the future. The national leaders have also asked the chief minister to attend to this exercise before the budget session.

Yediyurappa reportedly had argued that there is no need for immediate expansion of the ministry as three seats are to be set aside for two who lost the bypoll and one seat for R Shankar who was not fielded. He reminded his leaders that bypoll is yet to be held for Maski constituency. He said that if all the six or four spots among the vacancies are given to party loyalists, it will give rise to confusions and heart burns, making it difficult to appease the deprived legislators. He also had proposed to drop four current ministers and induct others in their places if the expansion has to happen. But the high command has not agreed to this, and it has said that ministry reorganization can happen only after the government completes one year in office.

Yediyurappa plans to hold discussions on the issue with the top leaders at New Delhi and has sought time after the Delhi assembly election. Once all the issues are discussed and sorted out, new ministers may be sworn in.