Cabinet expansion possible before Assembly session if BJP high command gives nod: Karnataka CM

Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, who returned to Bengaluru on Saturday, said he was awaiting communication from the BJP central leadership on whether or not he should expand or reshuffle his Cabinet.

Before heading to Delhi earlier this week, Yediyurappa had said he wanted to expand his Cabinet before September 21, when the start of the monsoon session of the legislature starts.

“BJP national president JP Nadda has told me that he will speak to the prime minister and let me know. I am waiting to hear from them,” Yediyurappa told reporters.

Asked if the exercise will happen before or after the legislative session, Yediyurappa said it would depend on the decision of the BJP central leadership. “I am waiting for their direction,” he said.

Sources close to the chief minister said the Cabinet expansion is likely to happen after the legislative session.

Yediyurappa’s Cabinet has six vacant berths and he is under pressure to accommodate MLCs M T B Nagaraj, R Shankar, and H Vishwanath - rebels who helped the BJP come to power. Apparently, Yediyurappa suggested an expansion by filling four berths whereas Nadda favored a minor reshuffle.

It is also said that the BJP central leadership favored the induction of Nagaraj, Shankar, and another MLC CP Yogeshwar.

“To put it simply, my visit to Delhi was greatly successful,” Yediyurappa said, adding that he held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and seven Union ministers.

“I explained to the PM about some of the state’s key projects. He assured that he’d act on them by issuing directions to the ministers concerned. I am fully confident that there will be solutions to various issues faced by the state and funds will be given for development works in the days to come,” he said.