by reciprocal arrangement with Star of Mysore
 

• Berths for M.P. Prakash, Revanna, Zameer Ahmed Khan and R.K. Rathod

Bangalore, June 20: The much-awaited and much-postponed expansion of the Kumaraswamy Government will take place tomorrow.

Eight Ministers of JD(S)-BJP coalition will be sworn-in at 9.30 am tomorrow in Raj Bhavan.

Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa disclosed this to Star of Mysore after a meeting of the leaders of both the parties at the Chief Minister's Home Office Krishna here this morning.

According to him, four Ministers from JD(S) will be inducted into the Cabinet and equal number of Ministers from BJP.

Former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, former Minister H.D. Revanna (elder brother of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy), Zameer Ahmed Khan and R.K. Rathod will be inducted from JD(S) side.

The BJP has shortlisted five aspirants. They are Ravindranath Makanoor, Shivanand Nayak, Lakshman Sawdi, Prakash Khandre and Shakunthala Shetty. Four of them will be selected for induction by this evening.

The decision to expand the Cabinet was taken at a meeting of top leaders at Krishna after a prolonged discussion.

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy, Transport Minister Cheluvarayaswamy, Primary and Secondary Education Minister Basavaraj Horatti, former Deputy Chief Minister M.P. Prakash, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Water Resources Minister K.S. Eshwarappa, Revenue Minister Jagadish Shettar, BJP National General Secretary Ananth Kumar and State BJP President D.V. Sadanandagowda attended the meeting.

Though there are six vacancies from each side, the reason for induction of four Ministers each is not known.

This is the second expansion of the Cabinet after the coalition Government came to power in February.

G.T. Devegowda, MLA from Hunsur, is expected to be inducted into the Cabinet in the last round of expansion.