Troubled over frequent infighting and corruption charges facing the leaders, BJP central leaders have decided to give a complete makeover for the party before the next general elections, said a senior functionary in the party.
“As the assembly elections are hardly nine months away, the party does not want to be wracked again by differences within its ranks. The party has now decided to fill the long-pending vacancies in the cabinet. Along with Jagadish Shettar, 30 ministers will take oath of office,” said he BJP leader. Apart from the Chief Minister, the cabinet can accommodate 33 ministers. With Mr Shettar inducting 30 ministers at one stretch, he will have three posts vacant.
The BJP state core committee is likely to meet either on Monday or Tuesday to finalise the new names for the Shettar cabinet. Along with Mr Shettar, R. Ashok, C.M. Udasi, Suresh Kumar, Shobha Karandlaje, Vishveshwara Hegde Kageri, Govinda Karjol, Basvaraj Bommai, S.A. Ravindranath, Umesh Katti, Murgesh Nirani, S.A. Ramadas, Revunaik Belamagi, V. Somanna, B.N. Bachche Gowda, A. Narayanaswamy, M.P. Renukacharya, Anand Asnotikar, Balachandra Jarakiholi, C.P. Yogeshwar, Varthur Prakash and Rajugowda Kage are likely to take oath.
New faces could be: Kundapura MLA Haladi Srinivas Shetty, Sullia MLA S. Angara, Chikmagalur MLA C.T. Ravi, Sringeri MLA D.N. Jeevaraja, Bijapura MLA Appu Pattanasetty, Basavakalyana MLA Basavaraj Patil Attur, Tumkur MLA Sogadu Shivanna, Madikeri MLA Apachu Ranjan, Vijayanagar MLA Anand Singh and Mahadevapura (Bengaluru) MLA Aravinda Limbavali.