Wih the BJP facing a tough task in finalising the list of ministers to join Jagadish Shettar in the new government, it is likely that only a dozen ministers will take oath along with the new CM if the party fails to finalise the list before Wednesday—the date fixed for the swearing-in ceremony. The state cabinet can have 32 ministers.
Sources said the party wants to expand the cabinet in two phases but former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa has told his loyalists including Mr Shettar to finish the exercise in one go. Mr Yeddyurappa has strongly opposed the induction of Chikmagalur MLA C.T. Ravi and Tumkur MLA Sogadu Shivanna in the Cabinet as he considers them his opponents. With this being the situation and the list of ministerial hopefuls growing, only a small group may take oath along with Mr Shettar till differences are ironed out, said the sources.
To finalise the ministers’ list, party in-charge for Karnataka, Dharmendra Pradhan held talks with Jagadish Shettar, state unit president K.S. Eshwarappa and party organising secretary Santhosh at the party office on Monday. Mr Pradhan also met Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda at his residence and held one-on-one discussions with BJP national general secretary, Ananth Kumar.
Fed up with the frequent dissident activities indulged in by ‘outsiders’ who joined the party in recent years, the party state unit is firm on inducting MLAs who have strong links with the RSS this time. “With only a few months left for the general elections, we have decided to give chances to MLAs from unrepresented districts and castes and will choose committed workers”, party organizing secretary Santhosh reportedly told MLAs who met him on Sunday.
The party may also make an attempt to weed out those facing serious criminal charges and those involved in land scams. Channapatna MLA C.P. Yogeshwar, who is facing serious charges, may miss the bus. However, with former Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa still dictating terms, it is anyone’s guess as to who will make it and miss out when the final list is out. Mr Yeddyurappa reportedly favours the induction of former ministers Laxman Sawadi and C.C. Patil.
The list of contenders besides those already in the Sadananda Gowda cabinet, include Appu Pattana Shetty, S.K. Bellubbi, C.T. Ravi, Appachu Ranjan, Sogadu Shivanna, Yogish Bhat and Haladi Srinivasa Shetty.