Karnataka is likely to have a full-fledged cabinet soon. According to BJP sources, the ministers will be sworn-in at the Raj Bhavan’s Glass house premises on Tuesday morning.
BS Yediyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on July 26 but since then, he has been the one and only minister in his cabinet. The decision was not in his hands. In fact, Yediyurappa made several visits to BJP headquarters in the last few days, but in vain.
His efforts paid off on August 17, as Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave him the go-ahead to form the cabinet. Speaking to the media on Monday morning, CM Yediyurappa said, "Within 2-3 hours, I am going to get the final list from Amit bhai (Amit Shah). So, cabinet expansion will be done tomorrow (Tuesday)."
But sources say that not all the ministerial berths will be filled by CM BS Yediyurappa.
Sources say the vacant seats have been kept reserved for the Congress and JDS MLAs who helped the BJP seize power. The MLAs were then disqualified by the then Speaker Ramesh Kumar as per the anti-defection laws. These MLAs have now filed cases in the Supreme Court against their disqualification. It is stated that the vacant berths are for some of them in case the SC rules in their favour.
The delay in cabinet appointment was also in part due to the flood crisis that kept the CM busy for more than 10 days. But the Congress party in the state was of the view that relief works could have been better handled if the cabinet was formed and district in-charge ministers were appointed.