Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda is likely to delay the much-awaited expansion of the cabinet, and await the outcome of the mining case against his predecessor B.S Yeddyurappa in the Supreme Court.
Sources in the party said Mr Gowda would wait and watch whether the apex court would accept the Central Empowered Committee (CEC)’s recommendation for a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into complaints against the former chief minister, and the political ramifications of such a verdict before making up his mind on whom to induct into the cabinet.
On Friday, Mr Sadananda Gowda held a meeting with state unit president K.S . Eshwarappa, BJP organising secretary Mr Santhosh, and law minister S Suresh Kumar on the issue of expansion of the cabinet.
Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Mr Eshwarappa, however, said the meeting was held only to discuss the ruling party’s strategy for next month’s election to the Legislative Council. Six BJP candidates, including Chairman of the Legislative Council, D H Shankarmurthy, would contest the polls.
He said Mr Sadananda Gowda would discuss cabinet expansion with senior central leaders of the party during his visit to Delhi. He said there was nothing wrong in a section of MLAs demanding early expansion of the cabinet.
“We also want to expand the cabinet. It will be done very shortly. However, who should be in the cabinet, whether some of the ministers ought to be listed for party work, would be decided by leaders in Delhi, and the Chief Minister,” he added.
He said the party would host regional meetings on May 12 and 13 to evolve a strategy to bag all six seats in the forthcoming polls to the Legislative Council.