Karnataka CM Yediyurappa to form new Cabinet after meeting Amit Shah on August 16
Karnataka chief minister Yediyurappa has stated that he will be visiting New Delhi to speak to Union home minister Amit Shah about the flood situation, and also about the new Cabinet formation
Bengaluru: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that the new Cabinet will be formed after August 16.
Speaking to the media at Sambra airport in Belagavi on Sunday (August 11), Yediyurappa said that he would have to discuss the issue with the high command in New Delhi before the list of ministers are announced.
Yediyurappa said, “I will be going to Delhi to discuss the flood situation and also to ask for financial assistance, on August 16. I will be meeting (Union home minister) Amit Shah and will also discuss the Cabinet expansion issue. Right now, the priority is to provide relief to flood-affected victims.”
The chief minister also stated that the party leaders in the state had informed the high command of the shortlisted candidates for the ministerial posts. Yediyurappa can form a Cabinet with a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 33 ministers in the state, excluding the post of deputy chief minister.
When asked whether the state will have a deputy chief minister, Yediyurappa was quoted as saying that in the next few days the complete details about the new Cabinet will be out.
On Saturday, ahead of Shah’s visit to conduct an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Karnataka, Yediyurappa had told the media that a decision on the Cabinet expansion would take place on Sunday. However, the expansion has been pushed to a later date in the wake of the floods.
“Amit Shah has asked us to focus on relief and rehabilitation of flood victims until my meeting with him on August 16. Till then, he has asked me to visit all flood-affected areas and take stock of the situation,” Yediyurappa said.
Criticising Yediyurappa for delaying the expansion of the Cabinet, former chief minister and leader of opposition in the Karnataka Assembly, Siddaramaiah said that Yediyurappa cannot handle the flood crisis alone and needs to immediately expand the Cabinet.