Yeddyurappa faction wins Round One

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Among the main demands of the Shettar faction was creation of two posts of deputy chief ministers, which the rival faction had been opposing vehemently.

The two sides had refused to budge an inch on the issue for five long days, leading to delay in formation of the ministry.

At last, the party high command intervened and asked the Shettar camp to give up its demand as the party does not favour creation of deputy chief minister post.
BJP Karnataka in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan informed the Shettar camp of the party stand at a meeting held on Sunday evening.

Besides, the Shettar camp was adamant on its demand for key portfolios like Finance, PWD, Revenue, Water Resources and Energy.

Having lost out on the demand for posts of deputy chief minister, the faction had decided to bargain hard on portfolios.

It had even rejected Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda's plan to form the ministry in a phased manner. Gowda wanted to induct about 20 ministers in the first phase and later hold talks on sharing portfolios.

Shettar wanted all issues to be resolved before forming the ministry.

In a meeting held at old BJP office in Malleswaram, Pradhan, BJP organising secretary Sateesh and RSS leader Santosh are learnt to have asked Shettar not to embarrass the party further by stalling ministry formation. The leaders assured Shettar to get the portfolios that he and his followers held in the Yeddyurappa Cabinet. Besides, they are learnt to have offered a key portfolio to Shettar himself if he does not want to retain RDPR. And She­ttar finally agreed, sources said.

The Chief Minister, who was under pressure to form the ministry, immediately announced that the swearing-in ceremony will be held in the evening.