Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Feb 5: BJP leaders who have been with the party all along, had complained against chief minister B S Yediyurappa, to the party high command when news had spread that Yediyiurappa had decided to make Ramesh Jarkiholi the deputy chief minister besides allotting him the all important major irrigation portfolio.

Now, the same group of MLAs has complained to the central leadership that Yediyurappa has been trying to offer ministerial positions to those who were defeated in the election by overlooking other eligible 'original' BJP leaders. They had hinted that this attitude might give rise to dissidence in the party, which might undermine the reputation of the party.

Long-expected ministry expansion is set to happen tomorrow. C P Yogeshwar, a defeated candidate, is almost sure to be made a minister. Although it is said that Yogeshwar had contributed immensely in bringing BJP back to power by keeping the rebel MLAs in good humour, the 'original' BJP leaders have questioned the rationale behind offering this position to Yogeshwar. They point out that many legislators who have won several elections are waiting in the wings, and hence giving this post to a defeated candidate is not right.

In a written complaint to the high command, they expressed the feeling that it is not right to give fillip to defeated candidates by overlooking eligible legislators. "If the dissidence breaks out, the experience we had when the BJP government was in power might get repeated. Therefore, the chief minister should be instructed to be very careful and choosy when expanding the ministry," these legislators said, turning their anger mainly at Yogeshwar.

BJP leader and home minister Amit Shah, who has taken this letter seriously, is understood to have called Yediyurappa to instruct him to see that ministry expansion should be done in such a way that no dissidence crops up. He also told Yediyurappa that the latter would be fully responsible for the fallout of this exercise.