Daijiworld Media Network - Benglauru (SP)
Bengaluru, Sep 19: Karnataka chief minister B S Yediyurappa held discussions with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and national BJP president J P Nadda on Friday September 19 about the much-awaited reorganization or expansion of the ministry. As of now, the high command has not made its decision known.
There are indications that Yediyurappa's proposal to drop four to five of his cabinet colleagues and exhaustively overhaul his ministry has not found favour with national leaders of the party.
In all likelihood, the chief minister might get clearance to admit four to five new faces into the state ministry. Nadda told Yediyurappa that he would shortly convey how many could be included. A clear picture might emerge on Saturday September 19 evening.
If the high command gives nod for ministry expansion as well as the list proposed by Yediyurappa, the swearing in might take place on Sunday itself. It is almost certain that R Shankar and MTB Nagaraj, who have been waiting in the wings since long, will make it to the ministry. Three loyals, who have been with the BJP since the beginning, will be admitted into the ministry, sources said.
Yediyurappa met the Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Sansad Bhavan and held talks. Modi is said to have asked him to discuss cabinet expansion with J P Nadda. Nadda later said he would discuss with the Prime Minister and then provide information. As such, the expectation that the final list would be out by Friday evening fell flat.
Yediyurappa said that Nadda has informed him that a decision would be made known on Saturday. He said that the instructions from Nadda would be followed and that he wants the swearing-in ceremony to be held before the assembly session begins on September 21.
If the ministry expansion is approved on Saturday, the swearing-in might happen on Sunday. Yediyurappa advanced his return to Bengaluru from Saturday evening to morning. Former minister H Vishwanath and political secretary to the chief minister M P Renukacharya, who had been to Delhi to lobby for ministerial berths returned to the city on Friday itself.