Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Dec 7: The BJP, it is said, has decided to make four disqualified MLAs who have fought the by-poll under lotus symbol, ministers, irrespective of what the poll result will be. The party, which is confident of winning most of the 15 seats which went to the by-poll on December 5, plans to make them MLCs and give spots in the cabinet.
Disqualified legislators, Ramesh Jarkiholi who was fielded from Gokak, H Vishwanath from Hunsur, MTB Nagaraj from Hoskote and K C Narayana Gowda who fought the election from K R Pet constituency, will make it to the ministry even though they get defeated, it is said. These leaders had led the operation to topple the coalition government in the state and are good orators with skill to floor the opposition leaders like Siddaramaiah, H D Kumaraswamy and Deve Gowda, the party leadership feels.
The state leadership of the BJP has conveyed to the national leaders that it hopes to win 10 to 12 seats including a few seats where the victory of margin will be thinner and therefore the result could be either way.
Out of 15 constituencies where by-poll was held, disqualified legislators fought in 13. Sharavana, who has been fielded from Shivajinagar Bengaluru constituency and Arun Kumar, who has been given ticket from Ranebennur are not disqualified MLAs and hence they do not have any hopes of being made ministers, sources added.
A few BJP MLCs are set to retire by June next year. The party might wait till then before making the disqualified legislators who get defeated members of the upper house. A few may also be alternatively offered chairmanship of boards and corporations, it is said. At the same time, deputy chief minister, Laxman Savadi, has to be made MLC before the expiry of six months since he was made a minster. Umesh Katti, a senior BJP leader and former minister, who has won eight elections, is also waiting in the wings to be made a minister.
On the whole, the entire exercise is complicated as promises made to the MLAs have to be fulfilled, performance of the government has to be stepped up, and original BJP leaders do not feel unhappy.