Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Nov 1: State Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa, has decided to expand his ministry on Wednesday. Buoyed by the verdict of the High Court on the disqualification of 11 dissident BJP MLAs, the Chief Minister is set to induct four new faces into the ministry, leaving two vacancies unfilled. Speaking to reporters on Sunday October 31 during his visit to Adichunchanagiri Mutt before participating in the district level meet of BJP activists in Chickballapur, Yeddyurappa said that the ministry is being expanded on November 3.

While the list of new people to be made ministers is awaiting final nod on Monday November 1 evening after conclusion of talks with party leaders, names of independent legislator, Varthur Prakash, who extended a helping hand to the government during crisis, and Raju Gowda, who deserted the dissident group and joined the government camp, Chikmagalur MLA, C T Ravi, and Tumkur MLA, Sogadu Shivanna, are almost certain to get ministerial berths.

For certain political reasons, the Chief Minister is learnt to have decided to leave two vacancies unfilled. He wants to ensure that the legislators do not get upset like during the last expansion. D N Jeevaraj from Sringeri, Appu Pattanashetty from Bijapur, Appachchu Ranjan from Madikeri, M P Kumaraswamy from Moodigere, Siddu Savadi from Terdal and MLC, D S Veeraiah, are the other names that are under consideration, it is learnt.

It is gathered that the party leaders have decided to drop four ministers and take in six new faces into the ministry during the next month. It is learnt that a few legislators, taking advantage of the precarious position of the government, have been trying to bring pressure to accommodate them, duly warning that they may be compelled to go their own way, if their demand is not accepted.