Cabinet Expansion

Seven BJP MLA's and MLC's aspiring to become ministers will be blessed with a cabinet berth today at 4 pm as CM BS Yediyurappa has got the names cleared after consulting central leaders. Out of eight names, so far 7 names have been cleared and turncoat MLA Munirathna Naidu is yet to figure in the list.

"We have finalised seven names. January 14 is the festival. Most probably the oath-taking ceremony will take place on January 13 afternoon. I will confirm the names and portfolios later," the Chief Minister told reporters.

Tulsiram Silawat and Govind Rajput were administered the oath of office by Governor Anandiben Patel.

Cabinet berth aspirants and turncoat leaders hoping to become ministers in the BS Yediyurppa government will have to wait till January as state election commission has poured cold water in their plans by announcing poll dates for Gram Panchayat elections. 

BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday said that he would expand the cabinet after BJP President JP Nadda approves the list of proposed ministers.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa is scheduled to visit New Delhi on Wednesday. The CM will be spending the day meeting the central leadership of BJP.

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had said last week that a cabinet expansion would occur after the results of the RR Nagar and Shira bypolls are announced. As the BJP won in both the constituencies, several BJP leaders, formerly with the Congress and JD(S), have begun lobbying for ministerial berths.

On meeting Union finance minister Sitharaman, the CM and his delegation requested her to accept recommendations of the 14th Finance Commission for a special grant of Rs 5,495 crore for Karnataka, on account of reduced devolution
 

It has been a tough one year for BS Yediyurappa in his fourth stint as chief minister as he has been battling various challenges such as floods, Cabinet expansion, bypolls and now coronavirus outbreak

Just like the way the Cabinet expansion of the Karnataka government took time and occurred at the behest of the BJP high command, the allocation of the portfolios may also take time. CM BS Yediyurappa had earlier announced that portfolios would be assigned on Saturday. However, with Delhi polls today and its results on February 11, the new ministers will have to wait.

We are not disheartened with the Cabinet expansion and we have no difference of opinions within us. We will express our views when the opportunity arises, said political secretary to Karnataka CM MP Renukacharya

 As CM BS Yediyurappa watched governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala administer oath to 10 turncoat leaders who became ministers, aspirants Umesh Katti and Murugesh Nirani kept themselves away from the ceremony. Apart from these two, ministers including B Sriramulu and KS Eshwarappa were also absent

Notable absentees included rural development and panchayat raj Minister KS Eshwarappa and former minister Murugesh Nirani. Health minister B Sriramulu and Cabinet berth aspirant CP Yogeeshwar were absent from the event as well. 10 newly elected MLA were inducted into the Karnataka Cabinet today.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa said that only 10 out of the 11 Congress-JD(S) rebels, who won the bypolls in December 2019 would be sworn in as ministers on Thursday

Longstanding MLAs and minister aspirants in BJP who were pestering BS Yediyurappa to induct them into the Karnataka Cabinet have been asked by Union home minister Amit Shah to fall in line and listen to what BS Yediyurappa says.