BENGALURU: Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai dashed hopes of cabinet aspirants when he indicated on Monday that the process of expanding his council of ministers could be delayed.
“Nadda ji [BJP national chief] said he will hold a special meeting on Karnataka after his return to Delhi and will ask me to come [to Delhi] thereafter,” Bommai said.
Nadda had attended the state BJP executive meeting at Hospet, Vijayanagara district, on Sunday and the buzz was that Bommai would get the nod to fill vacant cabinet berths. With the resignation of KS Eshwarappa, five posts are now vacant.
But Bommai’s comments have proved a dampener for hopefuls, who had expected the exercise to take place immediately after Ugadi (April 2). Since elections are fast approaching (2023), the party is treading cautiously with regard to expansion. Prominent among those who have been waiting in the wings are Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Aravind Bellad and P Rajeev.
Asked whether it would be an expansion or a reshuffle, Bommai said it would be decided in Delhi after a meeting with the high command. There is pressure mounting on Bommai to expand or rejig the cabinet. Some legislators are even advocating a Gujarat-like complete overhaul.
