Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Jan 26: There is a possibility that the state cabinet is going to get the much-awaited extension on January 29. Dissident MLAs of Congress and JD (S), who joined BJP and won the recently held assembly by-elections and the root BJP MLAs have already started lobbying for the minister positions.

All the dissident MLAs, who joined BJP and won the recent by-elections will, in all probability, get the minister positions and the rest six positions will be given to root BJP MLAs. It is also said that in the month of June seven MLC positions are going to be vacant and some will be elected to MLC and the cabinet will be restructured.

B S Yediyurappa (left) and B L Santhosh

In the midst of these chaos, several MLAs had objected to the statement of CM B S Yediyurappa that minister position will not be given to the dissidents who have lost the last assembly elections. However, S T Somashekhar has sprung a surprise by saying that it was made very clear to M T B Nagaraj and H Vishwanath that they will not be given minister positions if they lose the elections. This clearly shows that all is not well among the 17 dissidents, who had resigned from Congress and JD (S) and joined BJP.

It is also learnt that chief national organizing secretary of BJP B L Santhosh has met CM Yediyurappa on Saturday, January 25 and discussed the matter of cabinet extension. Rumours are rife that the list of ministers to be inducted into the cabinet is almost final.

Recently CM Yediyurappa had also discussed the cabinet extension matter with union home minister Amit Shah. It is said that in the discussion held on Saturday between B L Santhosh and Yediyurappa care is taken to see that all regions and castes are given representation so that no ill-feeling arises and disturbs the unity of the party.

It is also said that CM Yediyurappa had difference with the BJP high command in the matter of giving minister positions to all the 17 dissidents MLAs, which includes the two, who did not win the recent assembly by-elections. The high command also did not like the demand of CM Yediyurappa that the present three DCM posts have to be cancelled.

Yediyurappa had a press conference in his home office 'Krishna' on Saturday after holding discussion with B L Santhosh. The CM was smiling throughout the press conference. However, he denied making any comments on the cabinet extension part and kept the press conference limited only to his Davos visit.