Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and the BJP state unit are caught in a piquant situation with the party top brass insisting that no Yeddyurappa loyalists be dropped during the Cabinet expansion and some party MLAs insisting that this is what needs to be done.
The ‘non-performing’ ministers the legislators want on the chopping block include public works minister C.M. Udasi, horticulture minister S.A. Ravindranath, and animal husbandary minister Revunaik Belamagi—all Yeddyurappa loyalists. The party central leadership has clearly told the state unit not to upset the applecart by ejecting ministers loyal to BSY from the Cabinet which is sure to create a rift.
The MLAs loyal to the CM and party chief K.S. Eshwarappa are in no mood to agree with this and say some ‘dead weight’ will have to be shed and the Cabinet expanded at the earliest. Their logic: These ministers have been in power for the past four years and should now devote themselves to party work so that the vacant berths can be given to younger politicians.
With the CM and party president not likely to do anything to upset the leadership, it remains to be seen what stance this group of MLAs will take if they are denied a share of the power pie. Sources said they are not likely to be content with a reshuffle of portfolios which is all the CM may do in the current situation.
Party sources said the expansion is likely to happen in the third week of May and in all probability after the Supreme Court decision on ordering a CBI probe against Yeddyurappa.