BANGALORE: The Ministry expansion by Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy in consultation with Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and other top leaders of the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Bharatiya Janata Party has caused ripples, with a few legislators, who believed that they would find a place in the Ministry, expressing their protest. Efforts are on to assuage their feelings.

The two parties are yet to resolve differences over the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor project, particularly the legislation sought by the Janata Dal (S). Now they have to come to grips with discontentment among their members. Leaders of the two parties exude confidence that they can pacify legislators.

It is the first time in recent years that the Ministry is without a woman representative. It was widely believed that Parimala Nagappa or Vijaylakshmi Bandisidde Gowda of the Janata Dal (S), or Shakunthala Shetty or Shobha Karandlaje of the BJP will find a place.

For Mr. Kumaraswamy, who believed that the Ministry expansion would not be difficult, granting assurances to legislators has turned out be a major exercise in the past two days. He is reported to have promised a ministerial berth to at least five legislators, though there were only two vacancies in the Janata Dal (S) quota. Mr. Yediyurappa and State unit president of the BJP D.V. Sadananda Gowda are facing a similar problem.

Among the legislators who have expressed their displeasure are H.S. Shankarlinge Gowda, Rajendra Verma and Araga Jnanendra of the BJP, and R. Srinivas, G.T. Deve Gowda, B.C. Patil and Mahima Patel of the Jaanta Dal (S). Some of them, particularly Mr. Shankarlinge Gowda and Mr. Rajendra Verma, are vocal. Mr. Verma, who is the president of the State unit of the BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha, has threatened to step down in protest.

Sources in the Janata Dal (Secular) told The Hindu that the non-inclusion of Mr. Srinivas into the Ministry has come as a boon for H.K. Kumaraswamy, who has been given Cabinet rank. Mr. Srinivas, who represents the Mulbagal constituency, was a member of the N. Dharam Singh ministry, and his inclusion in the present Ministry was certain till the last minute as Kolar district has not been given representation. As the Chief Minister was unable to accommodate G.T. Deve Gowda from Mysore district, it was deemed fit to keep out Mr. Srinivas from the Ministry as he is from the same community.

A surprise inclusion in the Ministry is that of Zameer Ahmed Khan, a new entrant to politics, who is a first-time Minister and a first-time legislator. His loyalty to Mr. Kumaraswamy has apparently earned him a place in the Ministry.

Given the strength of the two Houses of the legislature, the State can have 34 Ministers, including the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister. As per the agreement between the two coalition partners, the BJP can have 18 Ministers from among its ranks and the Janata Dal (S) 16. Soon after the expansion, Mr. Kumarswamy said he and Mr. Yediyurappa would appoint chairmen of boards and corporations. Initially, appointments will be made to 20 boards and corporations.

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