Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Aug 2: The new chief minister of the state B S Yediyurappa is taking steps in the formation of cabinet cautiously. He received as setback early in his fourth tenure, when the central leadership of BJP negated his choice for the post of Speaker of the assembly at the 11th hour.

Yediyurappa wanted K G Bopaiah as the Speaker of the assembly as he has previous experience of the position. However, his choice was overruled by central leadership, who opted for Vishvehwar Hegde Kageri, who has no experience as a Speaker, though he has been a MLA six times.

Yediyurappa cannot go ahead with the expansion of the cabinet as he is waiting for the final confirmation from Amit Shah, who is engrossed in the proceedings of the parliament.

A party insider said that Yediyurappa can get an appointment with Amit Shah to discuss the matter of cabinet formation only after August 7, when the present parliament session gets over.

Chief minister Yediyurappa, however, is likely to leave for the capital of the country on August 6 with names of the probable ministers. If he will get an audience with Amit Shah, then the new cabinet ministers are likely to be sworn in on August 8 or 9 according to reliable sources in the BJP.

Approximately 12 to 15 ministers are likely to be inducted in the cabinet in the initial phase to control the dissatisfaction of the MLAs. There is space for only 34 people in the cabinet, whereas the aspirants are more than 40.

The party will also have to consider offering the ministerial positions to the 17 disqualified MLAs of Congress and JD (S), because of whose support, the coalition government was brought down from power. It is said that the BJP has promised cabinet berths some of the prominent rebels, if the party were to gain power in the state.

A former minister of BJP says that keeping some slots in the cabinet will give the rebel and disqualified MLAs of Congress and JD (S) some kind of satisfaction that the party is considering their sacrifice and will fulfill the promises made to them. It is also learnt that some of the disqualified MLAs are nervous about their future.

The matter of inclusion of the disqualified MLAs into the cabinet is likely to be decided in the coming week as the decision depends on the supreme court verdict on their petitions questioning their disqualification by the speaker of the assembly.

The rebel MLAs, who have been disqualified by the former Speaker Ramesh Kumar have approached the Supreme Court on Thursday and have appealed for the quashing of the order. They have also asked for new speaker Kageri to accept their resignations.

According to one of the former BJP minister, If the supreme court ruling is in favour of the disqualified ministers, then CM Yediyurappa will have to induct at least some of them as ministers in the cabinet in the next three to four days. On the contrary, Yediyurappa will have time, if the supreme court upholds their disqualification and allows the rebels to contest in the bypolls.

CM Yediyurappa, according to a former BJP minister, may not have the complete authority in the selection of his cabinet colleagues. It is learnt that BJP central leadership does not want the recurrence of chaos, which prevailed during the earlier regime of the party from 2008 to 2013, when every Yediyurappa was sent to prison.