15 contenders from Bengaluru in cabinet race

BENGALURU: The toughest challenge for the BJP government that is expected to assume power in the state might come from Bengaluru, given the huge number of ministerial aspirants from the city.
BJP legislature party leader BS Yediyurappa is likely to induct less than 10 legislators into his cabinet in the first leg should the central leadership give the green signal. He is allowed to have a maximum 34 members in his council of ministers.
But there are over 15 contenders from Bengaluru alone, many of whom are seniors. Ignoring them can only be at the government’s peril. “Depriving those who worked hard to topple the HD Kumaraswamy regime of ministerial berths could lead to disgruntlement,” said Harish Narasappa, co-founder of Daksh, a civil society group that studies electoral issues. “Yediyurappa will for sure struggle to keep everyone happy and the problem of plenty may come from Bengaluru.”
Five of the 15 rebel MLAs who brought about the coalition government’s downfall are from the city: ST Somashekhar (Yeshwantpur), Byrathi Basavaraju (KR Puram), N Muniratna (RR Nagar), R Roshan Baig (Shivajinagar) and K Gopalaiah (Mahalakshmi Layout). They, naturally, would be expecting their pound of flesh, which is nothing short of a cabinet berth.
Baig has been a former minister and the main reason of his rebellion was that he was not inducted into Kumaraswamy’s cabinet. “We are happy that the government has fallen. What follows would just be natural progression,” said Somashekhar.
Four senior BJP leaders from Bengaluru — Vokkaliga leader R Ashoka, who was deputy chief minister in the erstwhile BJP regime and held significant portfolios such as home and transport; V Somanna, the party’s Lingayat face in Old Mysuru region; Aravind Limbavali, a Dalit and S Suresh Kumar, a Brahmin leader — also expect ministerial berths. “Given its global brand, Bengaluru needs someone who knows the city well and has vast experience in city administration. People still remember my service when I was Bengaluru city development minister in the past,” said Somanna.
Also, any new BJP government will be obliged to CN Aswathanarayana (Mallesawram) and SR Viswanath (Yelahanka), who reportedly played a key role in pulling off the coup against the JD(S)-Congress government. “I don’t know whether it is credit or discredit. My role in the whole development was vehemently discussed. But, it is up to the party high command to decide on giving any responsibility to me,” said Aswathanaryana.
Three-time MLAs Ravi Subramanya (Basavanagudi), S Rahu (CV Raman Nagar) and M Krishnappa (Bengaluru South) are also minister material. Also, pressure is expected to come from leaders representing areas bordering Bengaluru: CP Yogeshwar (Chennapattana), MTB Nagaraju (Hoskote) and K Sudhakar (Chikkaballapura).
“The high command is not oblivious to this,” said Uday Garudachar, BJP MLA from Chickpet. “It has already begun the exercise to nip any discord in the bud. As a first step, the national leadership has asked us not nurse any aspiration. We abide by the command.”