Bangalore: Three Cong - JDS Defected MLAs Get Ministerial Berth
PTI
Bangalore, Jul 10: The BJP ministry in Karnataka led by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurapa was expanded with the induction of three more ministers of cabinet rank.
Governor Rameshwar Thakur administered the oath of office and secrecy to Balachandra Laxmanrao Jarakiholi, K Shivanagouda Naik and Asnotikar Anand Vasanth at a brief ceremony held at Rajbhavan.
With this second expansion, the ministry's strength rose to 34, the maximum stipulated for the state under the constitution. Yeddyurappa and his cabinet colleagues were present on the occasion.
K Shivanagouda Naik , Asnotikar Anand Vasanth and Balachandra Laxmanrao Jarakiholi
The three had defected from Congress and JDS last week to BJP and have been rewarded with ministerial berths.
Jarakiholi and Naik had been elected on JDS ticket from Arabhavai and Devadurga Assembly constituencies and Asnotikar of Congress from Karwar assembly segment.
They had quit their assembly memberships to avoid attraction of provisions of anti-defection laws before joining the BJP.
All the three are currently not members of either Houses of legislature and will have to get elected within six months. They will be contesting by-elections from their former constituencies after the Election Commission notifies the dates.
J Narasimha Swamy of Congress, who had also joined the BJP after resigning his assembly seat, has been appointed Chairman of Slum Clearance Board.