The induction of M P Renukacharya into the State Cabinet has opened a virtual can of worms with party MLAs and leaders openly criticising the move. Taking cue from the first-time MLAs from Bangalore decrying Renukacharya’s rise, many dissatisfied legislators, particularly senior MLAs have expressed their outrage at being upstaged by Renukacharya and are demanding that they too be made ministers. Such criticism seems to have left Renukacharya unruffled and the three-day old minister said at Davangere that such criticism did not bother him as he is “thick-skinned”.

Kodagu MP Appachuranjan is said to have begun organising the rebel group of 30 legislators who are against the CM’s decision to induct Renukacharya into the ministry and that they would go to Delhi en masse after the winter session of the legislature to complain to party high command in this regard. BJP MLAs Chandrakanth Bellad and Duryodhana Ihole and Member of the Legislative Council Bharati Shetty on Sunday openly expressed their displeasure at Renukacharya becoming a minister. Bellad, a three time MLA, declared that he too wants to be a minister.

Appachuranjan is said to be collecting signatures of party legislators on a representation to the Chief Minister demanding that he convene the legislature party meeting to discuss the issue. The theme of the rebels led by Appachuranjan is that disciplined and honest party workers be rewarded.

Concerned at the growing dissatisfaction among the MLAs, Yeddyurappa is learnt to have held a meeting with some of his senior Cabinet colleagues in Bangalore.