BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday indicated that senior Janata Dal (Secular) Ministers in his Ministry might have to make way for youngsters and engage themselves in party-building activity when B.S. Yediyurappa takes over as Chief Minister from him after his Ministry Government completes 20 months in office.

The Chief Minister, who is holding consultation meeting with his party legislators at a resort near Pune, reportedly suggested at a meeting of the party legislators on Saturday that the senior leaders, who had shared power under his chief ministership, should work for the party when the BJP gets the top post. This, according to him, would help the young legislators to become ministers while the party organisation would get strengthened due to the involvement of senior leaders.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister announced that he would expand his ministry by January 20. He assured the legislators of completing the process of appointments to boards and corporations by then.

According to sources, different views were expressed by the party legislators on whether the party should forge an alliance with the BJP in the elections to the urban local bodies. In this context, the party decided to authorise its senior leaders, including the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda to take a final decision.

Interestingly, Zameer Ahmed Khan, who had quit as minister recently to protest against the absence of the Chief Minister at an Id prayer meeting, attended the meeting on Saturday. Mr. Khan took part in the consultation and reportedly said that his decision to quit was emotional.

All the party legislators were said to have re-assured their support to the leadership of Mr. Kumaraswamy. But they made several suggestions to make on the party-building activity as well as functioning of the Government. Most of the legislators wanted some responsibility either in the Government or in the party, sources said.

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