<p>With the expansion of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s Cabinet imminent, indications are that the three deputy chief ministerial positions may be scrapped owing to growing discontent among senior BJP legislators.</p>.<p>Several MLAs and ministers have voiced their opinion against the berths in the past and even the chief minister is learnt to be not keen on having three deputies.</p>.<p>While this is expected to soothe the nerves of many senior BJP leaders, inclusion of newly elected legislators in<br />the Cabinet might pile fresh woes on the disgruntled state unit. </p>.<p>Statements by senior BJP leaders hinting that not all newly elected MLAs will be inducted to the Cabinet, could well cause fresh headaches for the saffron party.</p>.<p>The announcement in August 2019 by BJP leadership that three DyCMs will be inducted in the Cabinet, including Laxman Savadi -who was not a legislator - led to a furore among BJP ranks with several MLAs openly contesting the high command decision. Apart from Savadi, first-time minister C N Ashwath Narayan’s ascension as DyCM had also caused a heartburn to BJP leaders, especially from Bengaluru.</p>.<p>Moreover, sidelining Valmiki leader B Sriramulu - who was pitted to be the DyCM candidate during the run up to 2018 Assembly polls - had also come to haunt the BJP leadership. Sriramulu, who has harboured DyCM ambitions, has attempted to arm twist the State BJP leadership by rallying Valmiki community - a prominent ST community in Karnataka - behind him.</p>.<p>Another aspirant for the DyCM post was newly elected MLA from Gokak, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was among the first to rebel against the Congress-JD(S) coalition, and back Yediyurappa, was assured of a DyCM berth.</p>.<p>Now with Cabinet expansion on the horizon, sources say that DyCM posts - a prime cause among heartburn in several senior BJP leaders - will be scrapped. “Or else, demand for the post by some BJP leaders will only increase,” sources said.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, Narayan’s statement in Delhi that all elected MLAs will be inducted in the Cabinet “more or less” has raised questions on whether all the legislators in the 17-member group that quit the coalition will be accommodated. Moreover, Yediyurappa might also be compelled to<br />induct a few senior BJP MLAs, who have made their dissatisfaction clear, in order to prevent further discord in the party. “I’m confident I will continue as DyCM,” Narayan added. </p>
<p>With the expansion of Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s Cabinet imminent, indications are that the three deputy chief ministerial positions may be scrapped owing to growing discontent among senior BJP legislators.</p>.<p>Several MLAs and ministers have voiced their opinion against the berths in the past and even the chief minister is learnt to be not keen on having three deputies.</p>.<p>While this is expected to soothe the nerves of many senior BJP leaders, inclusion of newly elected legislators in<br />the Cabinet might pile fresh woes on the disgruntled state unit. </p>.<p>Statements by senior BJP leaders hinting that not all newly elected MLAs will be inducted to the Cabinet, could well cause fresh headaches for the saffron party.</p>.<p>The announcement in August 2019 by BJP leadership that three DyCMs will be inducted in the Cabinet, including Laxman Savadi -who was not a legislator - led to a furore among BJP ranks with several MLAs openly contesting the high command decision. Apart from Savadi, first-time minister C N Ashwath Narayan’s ascension as DyCM had also caused a heartburn to BJP leaders, especially from Bengaluru.</p>.<p>Moreover, sidelining Valmiki leader B Sriramulu - who was pitted to be the DyCM candidate during the run up to 2018 Assembly polls - had also come to haunt the BJP leadership. Sriramulu, who has harboured DyCM ambitions, has attempted to arm twist the State BJP leadership by rallying Valmiki community - a prominent ST community in Karnataka - behind him.</p>.<p>Another aspirant for the DyCM post was newly elected MLA from Gokak, Ramesh Jarkiholi, who was among the first to rebel against the Congress-JD(S) coalition, and back Yediyurappa, was assured of a DyCM berth.</p>.<p>Now with Cabinet expansion on the horizon, sources say that DyCM posts - a prime cause among heartburn in several senior BJP leaders - will be scrapped. “Or else, demand for the post by some BJP leaders will only increase,” sources said.</p>.<p>Meanwhile, Narayan’s statement in Delhi that all elected MLAs will be inducted in the Cabinet “more or less” has raised questions on whether all the legislators in the 17-member group that quit the coalition will be accommodated. Moreover, Yediyurappa might also be compelled to<br />induct a few senior BJP MLAs, who have made their dissatisfaction clear, in order to prevent further discord in the party. “I’m confident I will continue as DyCM,” Narayan added. </p>
