From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jul 29: Close on the heels of former Chief Minister and Industry Minister in the B S Yediyurappa cabinet Jagadish Shettar declaring that he would prefer to work for the party and not serve as a minister under Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, another senior BJP leader and former Mining and Geology Minister Murugesh Nirani on Thursday clarified that he would abide by the Chief Minister’s decision.
Speaking to media representatives in the morning, Nirani said expansion of the Cabinet was the Chief Minister’s prerogative and all must honour the Chief Minister’s decision.
The former minister, who was one of the contenders for the Chief Minister’s post to succeed Yediyurappa, said everybody must abide by the Chief Minister’s decision. “When to expand the Cabinet and who to induct as ministers is the prerogative of the Chief Minister. We will have to abide by his decision,” Nirani stated.
Nirani praised the Chief Minister for announcing a slew of decisions after his first cabinet meeting.
“Basavaraj Bommai has taken good decisions in his first cabinet meeting after taking oath as Chief Minister on Wednesday. His decisions on welfare of farmers, senior citizens, widows and differently-abled persons are good and praiseworthy,’’ he said.
Nirani said Bommai has begun his work by striking the right note and it has indicated the direction where this administration is heading on the very first day.
“Our government will give priority to people-friendly administration in the coming days,” Nirani said.
Reacting to media reports about Jagadish Shettar’s decision to opt out of cabinet, Nirani said he is not aware of the reasons behind the decision.
“Jagadish Shettar is our senior leader. He had been the Chief Minister, Speaker and State BJP president. I’m not aware of the reasons behind his decision. I will talk to him. It is his personal matter and I don’t want to create confusion. I’m not aware of the decisions of other senior leaders,” Nirani clarified.