Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa said on Saturday that he hoped that he would get instructions from the BJP leadership today or tomorrow regarding the cabinet expansion. Describing his Delhi visit as successful, the Chief Minister said that he wished that the process be completed before the monsoon session of the assembly starting on September 21, but everything depends on the decision of the party leadership.
Yeddyurappa said, 'I spoke to Nadda Ji (BJP President JP Nadda) for about half an hour yesterday regarding the cabinet expansion. He will probably talk to the Prime Minister and can give instructions on further action today itself.
Speaking to reporters after meeting Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi, he said that he would take a decision on cabinet expansion based on the decision of the party leadership. The Chief Minister is in Delhi since Thursday afternoon and has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and various Union Ministers on various issues related to the development of the state.
Yeddyurappa met Nadda last night on the Cabinet expansion. Asked about the number of members to be included in the cabinet, the Chief Minister said, "We will have to see, I will make a decision on the consultation of the Prime Minister and the National President."
Significantly, many old leaders are waiting to join the cabinet, besides AH Vishwanath, R Shankar, and MTB Nagraj, who have come to BJP after rebelling from Congress and Janata Dal (Secular), are also waiting for their turn. The Karnataka cabinet currently has 28 members and six seats are vacant.
Meanwhile, speculations are being made that given Yeddyurappa's age, there may be a change of leadership in the coming years. However, many including senior BJP leaders, party state president Nalin Kumar Katil and minister R Ashok have rejected them.