The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Independents may be made ministers

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 29, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Independents may be made ministers

B.S. Satish Kumar

Some senior MLAs are likely to be left out

Party leaders met some MLAs on ministry formation
Bangalore city may get six ministerial berths

BANGALORE: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) might have managed to get the required numbers to form the Government by mustering the support of six independent members.

But the support from the independent members has also given rise to heartburn among some of the ministerial aspirants of the party.

The reported decision by the party to reward some of the independent candidates with ministerial berths is bound to block the opportunity of some aspirants within the BJP. A few senior legislators, who have been elected three times, might lose an opportunity to become ministers as the party wants to accommodate independents in the ministry.

The party leaders reportedly held an informal discussion with a few MLAs and ministerial aspirants on Wednesday and explained the compelling political situation to them.

Speculation was on regarding not only the probable ministerial candidates, but also on their portfolios. Bangalore city, which has elected 17 BJP MLAs, is likely to get five or six ministerial berths (including for MLCs).

Meanwhile, preparations are on for the swearing-in ceremony in front of the Vidhana Soudha.

Several daises are being set up for seating those taking the oath and some of the VVIPs attending the swearing-in ceremony.

Bangalore City Commissioner of Police Neelam Achuta Rao and Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms Secretary Syed Zameer Pasha met the Chief Minister-designate, B.S. Yeddyurappa, at his residence on Wednesday and discussed the preparations for the swearing-in ceremony. Mr. Yeddyurappa had his morning walk on the premises of Vidhana Soudha, especially the venue of the swearing-in ceremony.

The lobbying for the ministerial posts continued on Wednesday. A group of minority workers staged a demonstration in front of the party office demanding that party vice-president Mumtaz Ali Khan should not be given a ministerial berth.

Instead, they sought the ministerial berth to Altaf Hussein.

When contacted by The Hindu, BJP Minority Morcha President and former MLA Derrick M. B. Fullinfaw took exception to such a demonstration and said it was the prerogative of the Chief Minister to choose a person of his choice for the ministerial berth. He said the protesters were not BJP members.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka