It’s been over a fortnight since BS Yediyurappa took oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and yet the state has no cabinet. Sources close to Yediyurappa say that the BJP’s central leadership has instructed the state leaders that a cabinet of 16 ministers must be formed initially, which can later be expanded.
BS Yediyurappa, who is in New Delhi, is set to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday to discuss issues related to rehabilitating flood victims and also the cabinet expansion. Party insiders maintain that the high command has given Yediyurappa the green signal to announce the list of new ministers by August 19 after the names are approved at the meeting on Saturday.
“The caste combinations must be met in order to ensure that no community is sidelined. The high command is of the opinion that keeping half the ministries vacant will not give rise to rebellion,” the source said.
The state leaders have shortlisted candidates based on caste combinations favourable to the party, the source said. “North Karnataka leaders are given more importance, since our voter base lies in the coast and north,” the source said.
In addition, the party leaders are waiting to see the fate of the 16 disqualified MLAs belong to the JD(S) and Congress, as Yediyurappa and other BJP leaders had promised 12 of them ministries in order for them to rebel against their own parties.
“If we announce all the ministers now, then there will be a problem. Once bye-polls are done, if the rebels win, then they will have to be allotted ministries. This is why a limited cabinet is being seen as the best way out,” the source said.
The state leaders have already prepared a list of candidates. These include MLAs Jagadish Shettar (Hubbali-Dharwad Central), Umesh Katti (Hukkeri), Madhuswamy (Chikkanayakanahalli), Basavaraj Bommai (Shiggaon), V Somanna (Vijayanagar) and Shashikala Jolle (Nippani) from the Lingayat community; Govind Karjol (Mudhol) and S Angara (Sullia) from the Dalit community; B Sriramulu (Molakalnuru), Shivanagouda Nayak (Devadurga) and Balachandra Jarkiholi (Arabhavi) from the Valmiki Nayak community; MLC Kota Srinivas Poojary from the Billava community; R Ashoka (Padmanabhanagar) from the Vokkaliga community and Suresh Kumar (Rajajinagar) from the Brahmin community, sources said.
“The Old Mysuru region has not been given importance this time around since several of the rebel MLAs are from this region. Besides, only three MLAs from Bengaluru city have been shortlisted as there are four disqualified MLAs from Bengaluru as well. The party’s largest vote base is the Lingayat community, and hence more candidates have been chosen from this community,” the source added.