Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, who has been burdened with 21 portfolios, has decided to apply pressure on the BJP central leadership to give him a go-ahead for expanding his cabinet, which has 11 vacancies. Mr Gowda and party state President K.S. Eshwarappa are likely to meet party central leaders in New Delhi on Tuesday to seek permission for the expansion.
The two leaders feel that cabinet expansion is the only solution to the leadership crisis within the party in the state with former chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa carrying out a relentless campaign to get back the gaddi. Cabinet expansion will also be the carrot the camp headed by Mr Gowda and Mr Eshwarapa would like to dangle in front of Mr Yeddyurappa’s followers. Once the chief minister starts the exercise for expansion, many in the Yeddyurappa camp would shift their allegiance, sources in the party said.
The Chief Minister is leaving for New Delhi on Sunday evening to attend the internal security meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Monday. He will not be able to meet the party central leaders on Monday as he will be busy with the meeting the entire day. “But it is certain that he would meet the leaders if he stays back,” said the sources at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat. “We know that it is not easy to expand the cabinet at this juncture. But the Chief Minister is left with no option. We also hope that Mr Yeddyurappa would give the green signal for expanding the cabinet,” a senior functionary of the party said.
But already, ministerial hopefuls who are also followers of Mr Yeddyurappa are putting pressure on him to give the go-ahead for the expansion. Unmindful of the pressures, Mr Yeddyurappa on Saturday visited the Ayyappa Swamy temple in Sabarimala. Party sources said Mr Gowda wants to induct seven ministers for the 11 portfolios.