Seven new faces were inducted into the Karnataka Cabinet at 3:50 p.m. on Wednesday, ending months of speculation and postponement.
Chief minister B. S. Yediyurappa announced the list of seven legislators, who were later sworn in: MTB Nagaraju and R. Shankar, C. P. Yogeeshwara (all three MLCs) and four senior MLAs Umesh Katti, Arvind Limbavali, S. Angara and Murugesh Nirani.
BJP National Genral Secretary in-charge of party affairs Arun Singh was part of those present during the swearing in ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
While this will fill all the seven vacancies in the Cabinet, one minister will be dropped to keep one slot vacant. Excise Minister H. Nagesh will be dropped and he was being convinced to resign, Chief Minister said.
No berth for Munirathna
Notable exclusion from those being inducted into the Cabinet is Munirathna, a defector who recently won the bypolls.
Mr. Yediyurappa had announced during the bypoll campaign that Mr. Munirathna will be made a minister once he wins bypolls. A case against Mr. Munirathna, alleging election fraud pending in Supreme Court, turned an impediment for him to become minister, party sources said. He was assured of being inducted into the cabinet during the next round of expansion, sources said.
Of the seven new legislators taking oath as ministers on Wednesday, there are two each from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, Kuruba and Scheduled Caste communities and one from among Vokkaliga community.
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