New Delhi, DHNS: Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda, Hubli-Dharwad Lok Sabha member Prahlad Joshi, Belgaum MP Suresh Angadi and Haveri MP Shivakumar Udasi are frontrunners for ministerial berths at the Centre, from the state.
Gowda may be considered for a berth this time too, if the BJP decides to give representation to Vokkaliga community.
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However, BJP state president Yeddyurappa may push Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Shobha Karandlaje’s name. In such a scenario, among Gowda and Shobha, one may be inducted to the cabinet, sources in the saffron party told DH.
If the party go by seniority, it may consider the names of Joshi and Angadi who won four consecutive times. The name of Udasi, three-time MP from Haveri, is also doing rounds under Lingayat quota, if the PM decides to induct young face. In the outgoing government, Gowda is a cabinet minister, while Bijapur MP Ramesh Jigajinagi and Uttara Kannada MP Ananth Kumar Hegde are Ministers of State.
Though Jigajinagi and Hegde are unlikely to make it this time, Karnataka BJP leaders may push for Jigajinagi to provide a representation to the Dalit community.
Rajya Sabha member Nirmala Seetharaman from state, who is currently Defence Minister, is likely to serve in the cabinet in the new government with important portfolio, sources said.