Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, who was breathing easy after the Centre rejected the governor’s recommendation for imposing President’s Rule, seems to be in for a fresh bout of trouble — this time over the proposed Cabinet expansion.
What is causing concern to the chief minister’s camp are the differences which have developed between Mr Yeddyurappa and BJP state president K.S. Eshwarappa over the expansion. While the chief minister is keen on dropping some ministers who have not performed too well in the last three years but not on an expansion, Mr Eshwarappa does not want anyone to be dropped as he fears it may lead to more trouble but is firm on inducting a few MLAs into the Cabinet, party sources told this newspaper.
With the President’s rule episode and BJP patriarch L.K. Advani’s adverse remarks on the government’s performance, still fresh in his mind, the CM feels that another Cabinet expansion, would lead to another confrontation in the party, something he would like to avoid at any cost.
However, to improve the sagging image of his three-year-old government, the CM does not mind dropping a few ministers. This has led to a tussle with the party state chief, who does not want anyone to be dropped and is instead insisting on an expansion to fill the seven vacancies in the Cabinet. Mr Eshwarappa has his reasons as he has promised Independent MLA Varthur Prakash and BJP rebel MLA-turned-loyalist Raju Gowda ministerial berths. The party has also promised berths to rebel BJP MLAs S.K. Bellubbi and Balachandra Jarkiholi after they returned to the BJP recently. The party will also have to fulfill the promise made to C.P. Yogishwar and M. Narayanaswamy that they would be inducted if they won the Chennapatna and Bangarpet seats.