Union Minister's Kin Paid Rebel MLAs' Hotel Expenses: BJP
Bangalore, Oct 30 (PTI): The state BJP unit on Saturday charged that a relative of a Congress leader and Union Minister from the state had paid hotel expenses of 16 rebel MLAs when they camped in Chennai during the recent political turmoil that rocked the state.
Releasing copies of the bill, purportedly cleared by the businessman, state unit BJP President K S Eshwarappa told a press conference that this indicated the role of Congress behind the rebellion launched by some MLAs against its government. He, however, refused to name the union minister.
According to the statement issued by a five star hotel in Chennai, the bill of Rs 3.89 lakh was paid in cash. He asked Congress and JDS leaders to accept defeat in the wake of the Karnataka High Court upholding disqualification of 11 rebel BJP MLAs and allow the BJP government to continue.
Eswarappa claimed he would come out with more proof of opposition parties funding the BJP dissidents in the coming days.
Yeddyurappa likely to expand ministry next week
Bangalore, Oct 30 (PTI): Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa is likely to expand his ministry next week to fill up four of the six vacant ministerial berths, party sources said today.
The move is seen as an effort to placate some of the ministerial aspirants, who had earlier threatened to join the ranks of rebels. Sources said the BJP's Core Committee, which met after the state high court upheld disqualification of 11 rebels MLAs, has given the nod to the Chief Minister to undertake the expansion exercise.
The ministry expansion is likely to take place either on November 3 or 5, the sources said. They said Yeddyurappa's plan to keep two berths vacant to check possible dissidence in the aftermath of ministry expansion has been accepted by the party.