Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Dec 25: The state cabinet expansion or reorganization has gained the attention of people and the media several times during the last few months and the expectations were belied each time. Now new information claims that it will happen in January.
Even though the chief minister wants a rejig by dropping a few ministers, the central leaders are reportedly averse to this proposal. Therefore, the ministry will be expanded by filling the available vacancies. The BJP top leadership reportedly has given the chief minister its nod to include five to six new ministers. The central leadership was apprised of the ground reality by the Karnataka BJP in-charge, Arun Singh,who had visited the state some days ago.
Currently there are seven vacancies in the ministry but the number of aspirants has far outnumbered the vacancies available. Recently elected MLA, Munirathna, as well as MLCs, MTB Nagaraj and R Shankar, who crossed over from other parties, are said to be sure to get the berths as Yediyurappa has committed to them. The others who could be chosen may be C P Yogeshwar, and MLAs from Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts.
A few weeks back, there was talk of replacing the chief minister. But realizing that his ouster could prove costly for thie party as the high command is wary of making its Lingayat vote bank unhappy with this move. Yediyurappa has strengthened his position among this vote bank by setting up a corporation for them and also proposing to include them in the OBC list. Moreover, there is no leader who can come close to Yediyurappa in terms of public acceptance and clout. Names of Angara, Halady Srinivas Shetty, V Sunil Kumar, K G Bopaiah and Appachchu Ranjan are also under consideration, it is said.
The chief minister has been given the permission to go ahead with the expansion after the result of the gram panchayat elections are announced on December 30. Therefore, the exercise may be undertaken during the first or second week of January, sources said.