BENGALURU: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa announced new cabinet ministers will take oath at 10.30am on Thursday (February 6) at Raj Bhavan, signalling an end to two months of uncertainty among the 11 turncoats, who won the December bypolls on BJP tickets. Besides three party loyalists, 10 of the 11 rebels will join the cabinet.
But Yediyurappa refused to say whether the swearing-in will be a reshuffle or an expansion. Sources say he is unlikely to drop ministers as the government has not even completed a year in office.
The CM said he is confident the exercise will pass smoothly, but barely an hour later, MLAs voiced disappointment and even threatened to resign. Housing minister V Somanna urged disappointed legislators to stay calm and wait till next year when another a cabinet reshuffle will happen.
Kumatalli to be dropped?
With only 10 of the 11 turncoats set to be accommodated, speculation was rife that Athani legislator Mahesh Kumatalli would miss out. An incensed Kumatalli said the BJP would be backtracking on its promise if he is not made a minister.
“When they took us into the BJP, they promised all of us would be made ministers,” Kumatalli said. “If two members from Belagavi cannot be made ministers, then why did they approach us? They could have told us then [before he resigned]. However, I will abide by the central leadership’s decision and will even sweep BJP’s headquarters if asked.”
Ramesh Jarkiholi picked up on Kumatalli’s grouse and rushed to meet the CM to make a case for his confidant.
Disqualified legislators out
Yediyurappa also ruled out inducting AH Vishwanath and MTB Nagaraj, the two turncoats who lost the bypolls. Vishwanath, though, insisted he was eligible to be made a minister, saying the moment the turncoats filed nomination papers to contest the byelections, they were “purified” from the blot of disqualification.
“The Supreme Court verdict doesn’t say that to be a minister, we should win the bypolls. Let the CM consult legal experts and decide,” Vishwanath said, adding it was Yediyurappa’s “duty” to fulfil assurances he had given.
Nagaraj also met Yediyurappa and urged him to “find a route to right the wrong”. “It has been made amply clear that BJP MP BN Bachchegowda and his son Sharath were the prime reason for my defeat. I am sure the CM will explore possibilities,” Nagaraj said.
Core legislators miffed
With the induction of only three loyalists, many legislators are extremely disappointed. What appears to have peeved MLAs more is the rumour that Yediyurappa’s confidant and defeated Channapatna MLA CP Yogeshwar is likely to make the grade. “It’s because of this, Yediyurappa took a couple of days to calm tempers,” said a party functionary.
While Mysuru MLA SA Ramdas met Yediyurappa in the morning to make his case, supporters of Chitradurga MLA GH Thippareddy threatened mass resignation from the party if their leader was not accorded a cabinet berth.
‘Shankar will be made MLC’
Yediyurappa also reiterated disqualified Ranebennur MLA R Shankar will be made minister. “Shankar will be given an MLC ticket. The promise I made to him will be fulfilled,” Yediyurappa said. However, sources say Shankar will be made an MLC in June, keeping DyCM Laxman Savadi’s seat safe for now.
But Yediyurappa refused to say whether the swearing-in will be a reshuffle or an expansion. Sources say he is unlikely to drop ministers as the government has not even completed a year in office.
The CM said he is confident the exercise will pass smoothly, but barely an hour later, MLAs voiced disappointment and even threatened to resign. Housing minister V Somanna urged disappointed legislators to stay calm and wait till next year when another a cabinet reshuffle will happen.
Kumatalli to be dropped?
With only 10 of the 11 turncoats set to be accommodated, speculation was rife that Athani legislator Mahesh Kumatalli would miss out. An incensed Kumatalli said the BJP would be backtracking on its promise if he is not made a minister.
“When they took us into the BJP, they promised all of us would be made ministers,” Kumatalli said. “If two members from Belagavi cannot be made ministers, then why did they approach us? They could have told us then [before he resigned]. However, I will abide by the central leadership’s decision and will even sweep BJP’s headquarters if asked.”
Ramesh Jarkiholi picked up on Kumatalli’s grouse and rushed to meet the CM to make a case for his confidant.
Disqualified legislators out
Yediyurappa also ruled out inducting AH Vishwanath and MTB Nagaraj, the two turncoats who lost the bypolls. Vishwanath, though, insisted he was eligible to be made a minister, saying the moment the turncoats filed nomination papers to contest the byelections, they were “purified” from the blot of disqualification.
“The Supreme Court verdict doesn’t say that to be a minister, we should win the bypolls. Let the CM consult legal experts and decide,” Vishwanath said, adding it was Yediyurappa’s “duty” to fulfil assurances he had given.
Nagaraj also met Yediyurappa and urged him to “find a route to right the wrong”. “It has been made amply clear that BJP MP BN Bachchegowda and his son Sharath were the prime reason for my defeat. I am sure the CM will explore possibilities,” Nagaraj said.
Core legislators miffed
With the induction of only three loyalists, many legislators are extremely disappointed. What appears to have peeved MLAs more is the rumour that Yediyurappa’s confidant and defeated Channapatna MLA CP Yogeshwar is likely to make the grade. “It’s because of this, Yediyurappa took a couple of days to calm tempers,” said a party functionary.
While Mysuru MLA SA Ramdas met Yediyurappa in the morning to make his case, supporters of Chitradurga MLA GH Thippareddy threatened mass resignation from the party if their leader was not accorded a cabinet berth.
‘Shankar will be made MLC’
Yediyurappa also reiterated disqualified Ranebennur MLA R Shankar will be made minister. “Shankar will be given an MLC ticket. The promise I made to him will be fulfilled,” Yediyurappa said. However, sources say Shankar will be made an MLC in June, keeping DyCM Laxman Savadi’s seat safe for now.
Get the app