No cabinet berth for C'magalur MLAs so far

Hopes pinned on third phase of cabinet expansion

With just seven more posts left to be filled, the entire district is now waiting to see the third phase of cabinet expansion. They are hoping to see at least one of the local MLA grabbing a post out of seven.

In the district almost every organisation is headed by BJP candidates. One Parliament constituency and five Assembly constituencies are in BJP’s hands. Despite this the new CM did not give any representation to the district during two rounds of cabinet expansion. This has disappointed the party workers of the district to very large extent but they hold the internal differences of the MLAs responsible for their own plight.

“Our MLAs lack unity. Instead of working with each other they are always competing with each other. They do not mind being denied a post but they do not want their fellow MLA to get one. These differences have been noted by the top leaders. This is precisely what is working against the district,” said a loyal party worker.

CM D V Sadananda Gowda’s close aide D N Jeevaraj had over confidently told that he would get ministerial berth right in the first round of cabinet expansion itself but it did not turn out to be so.

On Thursday, when former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa visited Rambhapuri Mutt, supporters of Jeevaraj gheraoed BSY demanding ministerial berth to Jeevaraj.

Prominent contenders, MLA C T Ravi and M P Kumaraswamy too have failed to get a ministerial berth this time. While Ravi had told his close aides that he has given up hopes of getting a portfolio, Kumaraswamy had openly spoken about his closeness to DVS and hence the possibility of becoming a minister.

However, the aspirants for the post have now realised that it is not enough if they please the CM but what would actually make an impact is their capability to convince the former CM. This was obvious by the way the aspirants were lining behind BSY on Thursday.

Even as MLAs are still making all possible efforts to get a berth, hopes are now pinned on the third round of cabinet expansion.