The newly appointed Chief Minister of Karnataka Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday expanded his cabinet by inducting 29 ministers. While he retained 23 ministers from the 33-member Yediyurappa cabinet including the only woman minister, the cabinet has about 6-8 new faces.
However, speculation were rife that BS Yediyurappa’s son BY Vijayendra will join the cabinet but seems like the high command vetoed Bommai as Vijayendra has failed to make it to the cabinet. Bommai was keen to give a berth to his mentor Yediyurappa’s son to ensure smooth running of the government.
Reports say many of BSY’s other loyalists, including SR Vishwanath, MP Renukacharya, H Halappa, have not also been made cabinet ministers.
However, the Lingayat strongman’s enemies in BJP, Aravind Bellad, CP Yogishwar and BR Patil Yatnal have also not been inducted in the cabinet. These three leaders had openly revolted against the former Chief Minister that lead to his resignation from the top post. Bellad was also in the race for the post of chief minister a week ago.
Notables among those who have missed the berth are former CM Jagadish Shettar, senior MLAs S Suresh Kumar and Aravind Limbavali.
While Shettar opted out citing his seniority, Suresh Kumar and Limbavali are reportedly upset over not being made the ministers again.
Most of the Congress and JDS turncoats, who made Yediyurappa the chief minister two years ago, have managed to retain their positions. Bommai had to keep them in cabinet as he has a thin majority in the state assembly and these defectors form a powerful group within the government.
The BJP high command has also taken a decision against appointing deputy chief ministers in the Bommai government. BSY’s government had three deputy chief ministers.
In other India news, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched ‘Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam’, a doorstep healthcare scheme