Bengaluru: Karnataka’s wait is finally over with fifteen BJP MLAs and Independent legislator from Mulbagal, H. Nagesh, set to take oath as ministers of the B.S. Yediyurappa Cabinet Tuesday morning at Raj Bhavan.
“The Cabinet expansion will take place between 10:30 am and 11:30 am on Tuesday. I have already written a letter to the Governor in this regard. I have asked the Chief Secretary to make all arrangements,” Chief Minister Yediyurappa said on Monday.
Though the BJP veteran took over as CM 25 days ago on July 26, cabinet formation was delayed because of a host of factors including the unprecedented floods and landslides in the state. The BJP central leadership had then taken the stance that cabinet formation could wait and had asked the CM to rush to the aid of the flood-affected.
The list of ministers was not announced till Monday night but sources in the BJP confided that many senior MLAs and die-hard supporters of Mr Yediyurappa are unlikely to find place in the cabinet. Those who may not make it include Murugesh Nirani, M.P. Renukacharya, Aravind Limbavali, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, C.M. Udasi, K.G. Bopaiah and Haratalu Halappa.
This obviously means that Yediyurappa could not have his way while finalising the list of ministers with sources saying the party top brass did not give him the freedom to select the team he wanted. However, sources close to the CM maintained that party national president Amit Shah had approved the majority of names suggested by Yediyurappa.
Sources also said that there could be a few surprises in the list which was finalised after hectic consultations between the CM, Mr Shah and party national organising secretary B.L. Santhosh at Delhi. They include Kundapura MLA, Haladi Srinivasa Shetty, Sulia MLA, S. Angara and Kuduchi MLA, P. Rajeev.
