Setting the stage for Wednesday’s expansion and reshuffle of his ministry, Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa on Tuesday sacked three ministers, ignoring suicide threat by one of them.
In the much-awaited reshuffle, Mr Yeddyurappa would induct six ministers, going ahead with his resolve to restructure the 28-month old BJP ministry, the first ever in the south.
Ministers Goolihatti Shekar (sports), who has threatened to commit suicide if removed, Shivanagouda Naik (adult education) and Aravind Limbavali (higher education) were shown the door by Mr Yeddyurappa, who also faced threat of resignations by ministerial aspirants to quit their Assembly membership if not accommodated in the Cabinet.
A day after consulting the party central leadership on the exercise, Mr Yeddyurappa recommended the sacking of the three ministers to governor H.R. Bhardwaj, who promptly accepted it.
An appeal by tourism minister and mining magnate G. Janardhana Reddy, who was the rallying point for dissidents last year, not to drop Mr Shekar, Mr Limbavali and Mr Naik met with an outright rejection.
Shobha Karandlaje, who fell victim to dissident activity launched by Mr Reddy last year and a close confidant of Mr Yeddyurappa, is all set to return to the ministry on Wednesday.
Others who will be sworn are V. Somanna, C.H. Vijayashanakr, A. Ramdas, A. Narayanaswamy and C.C. Patil.
Mr Yeddyurappa was reportedly furious with Shekar, an Independent who supported the BJP at the time of formation of the government in 2008, for issuing the suicide threat.
Similar was the fate of Mr Naik, who had threatened to quit his Assembly membership if he was dropped.
Mr Limbavali, who initially ignored the directive to resign seeking Mr Reddy’s support for continuance, however, ultimately yielded and sent in his resignation letter, but it was too late as Mr Yeddyurapa had already recommended his sacking.
Mr C.T. Ravi, a strong aspirant for ministerial berth, submitted his resignation to his assembly membership to the Speaker’s office, after his claim was ignored, but it was yet to be accepted. Speaker K.G. Bopaiah is abroad now. Suspected supporters of Mr Ravi pelted stones at three buses on the outskirts of Chikmagalur on Tuesday to vent their anger over denial of ministerial post to their leader.
In another development the police foiled an attempt by a supporter of Mr Shekar to consume poison in front the residence of health minister B. Sreeramulu here.
—PTI