Cabinet Expansion

The cabinet expansion will take place in Mumbai today with reports suggesting that Devendra Fadnavis likely to get the home portfolio. Reports noted that 14 new Cabinet members, 7 each from BJP and Shiv Sena will be given offices.

Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said, "Maharashtra cabinet will be extended sooner than you imagine." According to sources, the exercise will be finished before August 15.
 

Devender Singh Babli, the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) MLA from Tohana, Gian Chand Gupta, the Haryana Assembly Speaker and MLA from Panchkula, and Dr Kamal Gupta, MLA from Hisar, are among those expected to be admitted into the state government.

Ashok Gehlot has called a meeting of all the senior state leaders on Sunday afternoon.

If experts are to be believed, in the new changes, the Sachin Pilot camp will be seen gaining an upper hand.

The Cabinet expansion came after new CM Charanjit Singh Channi held marathon meetings with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the central high command.

The highly anticipated Cabinet expansion under CM Basavaraj Bommai will take place today at 2:15 pm. The CM informed reporters that by 11 or 11.30 am, the official list will be sent by high command. The CM was told by central leaders that they will give a nod for the oath-taking of new ministers by the first half of the day. Eight lawmakers have received a call from the CM so far.

As intense lobbying is taking place for a ministerial berth in CM Basavaraj Bommai's Cabinet, it is reported that the name of Vijayendra Yediyurappa son of former CM BS Yediyurappa is also doing the rounds. Talking to Asianet Newsable, Vijayendra said that he will abide by the party's decision and expressed that he is interested in contesting the election after two years. He also responded to reports of BS Yediyurappa's alleged pact before resignation and lobbying by MLAs for ministerial post.

With mounting pressure from legislators for Cabinet expansion and inclusion in the team, Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai arrived in Delhi and met BJP General Secretary BL Santosh. Bommai, who will be meeting BJP National President JP Nadda by evening, stressed that if he gets approval, the swearing-in ceremony of new ministers will be held on Wednesday. He also hinted that ministers' post will not be limited to Bengaluru and Belagavi districts.

Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai may soon expand his Cabinet if central leaders give a green signal. The CM has left for Delhi today and will meet national president JP Nadda to seek his approval. It is said that the CM will have a small Cabinet to begin with and later may add more ministers in a phased manner.

With Karnataka Cabinet expansion expected to take place in the coming week, over half a dozen ministerial aspirants lined up at Lingayat strongman BS Yediyurappa's house for lobbying. Within minutes, CM Basavaraj Bommai also rushed and downplayed the importance, saying that his visit was just to 'consult' his senior.

Newly appointed Karnataka CM Bommai made his first official Delhi trip to meet PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Rajnath Singh and BJP National President JP Nadda to express his gratitude for appointing him CM. The CM addressing news reporters stressed that the Cabinet expansion will be done only after consultation with national president JP Nadda.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated his colleagues who took oath as ministers and wish them the very best for their ministerial tenure. 

This is the third expansion of the cabinet since Yediyurappa assumed charge in July 2019 after the collapse of the Congress-JD(S) government in the wake of revolt by 17 MLAs of the coalition partners.

"New ministers will take oath at the Raj Bhavan at around 3.50 pm Wednesday, the list of seven or eight ministers who will be inducted will be released in due course," CM told reporters in Bengaluru.