Speaking with mediapersons here on Friday, he said that the third phase of Cabinet expansion was likely after the Koppal bypoll.

Shettar also said the panchayat development officers and executive officers would henceforth be directly recruited instead of appointing them on deputation. A similar procedure would be adopted to fill the 500-odd vacant posts of engineers in the zilla panchayats, he added. On the allegations of revocation of decisions taken at gram sabhas, the minister said a circular had been issued to video-record the meetings to prevent recurrence of such decisions.