BENGALURU: Ending months of suspense, the BJP central leadership has given green light to the six-month-old BS Yediyurappa cabinet to induct 10 turncoat MLAs on Thursday. Unable to quell dissidence in the ranks, the party has decided to defer handing over ministerial duties to party loyalists to June or July.
Yediyurappa confirmed 10 of the 11 disqualified MLAs who won on BJP tickets will take oath at Raj Bhavan. After the induction exercise on Thursday, the cabinet will still have six vacancies. The party had to put off inducting loyalists since the controversy surrounding intended elevation of CP Yogeshwar, who’s not a member of either house, refused to die down. The CM said, “Party chief JP Nadda has invited me to Delhi for talks to fill the remaining six vacancies. That’ll be at a later date.”
The CM, however, confirmed that Umesh Katti, a seven-time legislator from Hukkeri, will be made a minister in the next expansion.
Through Wednesday, Yogeshwar and Katti were lobbying with Yediyurappa for berths. Yediyurappa couldn’t secure approval to induct Katti, Yogeshwar and Arvind Limbavali. The central leadership is said to be unhappy with dissidence in the ranks over possible induction of Yogeshwar. “I was told loyalists will be inducted later and I’ll abide by the decision,” said Yogeshwar, former Channapatna MLA.
Yediyurappa may fill the remaining vacancies after seats in the legislative council fall vacant 3-4 months later. He is likely to accommodate disqualified Ranebennur MLA R Shankar and defeated turncoats AH Vishwanath and MTB Nagaraj. “Once legislative council posts are filled, we’ll see another expansion with six seats in play. At that time, except for Shankar, we can expect at least five loyalists to be elevated,” said a party functionary.
Hirekerur legislator BC Patil was the first to acknowledge he’ll take oath on Thursday and said “today is an unforgettable day for me” in a thank-you message to the CM.
Mahesh Kumatalli, the lone turncoat denied a ministerial post, was disappointed, but said he had made his case to the CM. “I’ll continue to function as per the party’s wishes,” he said. Later, the CM promised him a ‘bigger’ responsibility.
Yediyurappa confirmed 10 of the 11 disqualified MLAs who won on BJP tickets will take oath at Raj Bhavan. After the induction exercise on Thursday, the cabinet will still have six vacancies. The party had to put off inducting loyalists since the controversy surrounding intended elevation of CP Yogeshwar, who’s not a member of either house, refused to die down. The CM said, “Party chief JP Nadda has invited me to Delhi for talks to fill the remaining six vacancies. That’ll be at a later date.”
The CM, however, confirmed that Umesh Katti, a seven-time legislator from Hukkeri, will be made a minister in the next expansion.
Through Wednesday, Yogeshwar and Katti were lobbying with Yediyurappa for berths. Yediyurappa couldn’t secure approval to induct Katti, Yogeshwar and Arvind Limbavali. The central leadership is said to be unhappy with dissidence in the ranks over possible induction of Yogeshwar. “I was told loyalists will be inducted later and I’ll abide by the decision,” said Yogeshwar, former Channapatna MLA.
Yediyurappa may fill the remaining vacancies after seats in the legislative council fall vacant 3-4 months later. He is likely to accommodate disqualified Ranebennur MLA R Shankar and defeated turncoats AH Vishwanath and MTB Nagaraj. “Once legislative council posts are filled, we’ll see another expansion with six seats in play. At that time, except for Shankar, we can expect at least five loyalists to be elevated,” said a party functionary.
Hirekerur legislator BC Patil was the first to acknowledge he’ll take oath on Thursday and said “today is an unforgettable day for me” in a thank-you message to the CM.
Mahesh Kumatalli, the lone turncoat denied a ministerial post, was disappointed, but said he had made his case to the CM. “I’ll continue to function as per the party’s wishes,” he said. Later, the CM promised him a ‘bigger’ responsibility.
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