The Hindu : Karnataka News : Cabinet expansion hinges on court verdict

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Wednesday, Oct 20, 2010
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Cabinet expansion hinges on court verdict

Special Correspondent

Yeddyurappa holds consultations with top leaders of RSS on expansion
Six ministerial berths are vacant; Varthur Prakash likely to get nod

BANGALORE: The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party is believed to be preparing for ministerial expansion on October 22 if things go according to plan.

According to a senior BJP functionary, the ministerial expansion will be taken up on October 22 if the Karnataka High Court's verdict on Wednesday is in favour of the party with respect to the disqualification of 11 rebel MLAs. If the verdict goes against the party, then it will be busy with preparations for challenging the verdict before the Supreme Court and the ministerial expansion may have to be put off, he noted.

The party commenced preparations for the ministerial expansion with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa holding consultations with top leaders of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in Bangalore on Tuesday. He is learnt to have discussed various developments, including ministerial expansion with the RSS leaders.

Partial expansion

According to party sources, the BJP is planning to take up partial expansion of the ministry instead of filling up all the vacancies. Presently, six ministerial berths in the B.S. Yeddyurappa ministry are lying vacant as four independents have been sacked and two rebel Ministers have resigned. The party is considering keeping one ore two ministerial berths vacant to keep the hopes alive for the disappointed ministerial aspirants.

Confirming this, a senior leader declined to name the ministerial probables. But he made it clear that independent MLA Varthur Prakash, who supported the BJP Government during the crucial trust vote for the second time, is bound to get a ministerial berth. In addition to this, representation is expected to be given to the districts of Chickmagalur, Tumkur and Bidar.

The last ministerial expansion was on September 22, when six legislators, including Shobha Karandlaje and V. Somanna, were inducted into the Cabinet. Though this exercise had given raise to dissidence, with the Bellary Ministers taking up the cause of those axed from the ministry, things had been brought under control as the party high command had strongly backed the action of its State unit.

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