Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Dec 18: Karnataka chief minister (CM) B S Yediyurappa, clarified that his ministry will be expanded during the last week of this month. He also said that at present, only those leaders who were declared elected in the recent bypoll would be made ministers.
Speaking to media persons, the CM explained that he will be going to New Delhi on December 21 or 22 to discuss with national level leaders of the party about ministry expansion. He added that the ministry expansion will happen before the month end.
About pressure being brought by aspirants for being made ministers, Yediyurappa said that this is normal. He said that those who fought the election and got elected will be made ministers. About the others, a decision will be taken in consultation with the party's high command, he clarified.
The state ministry can have 34 ministers including the chief minister. 18 have already been made ministers. Therefore, there is provision to induct 16 more.
Already, the ministerial aspirants have been making a beeline for Yediyurappa's residence to plead their cases. MLAs Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Katti, Narayana Gowda and some others came to the CM's residence at Dollars Colony here on Tuesday, December 17, and discussed about their place in the ministry. Some of them, it is said, are hell bent upon getting particular portfolios.