The much-awaited cabinet expansion in Karnataka will take place on January 13, said Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday, reported ANI. The Chief Minister further said that seven new members may be inducted into the Cabinet. The state can have a total of 34 ministers and has 27 now.
“The BJP high command has permitted to induct seven legislators in the cabinet. They will be sworn-in on January 13 afternoon, as there is ‘habba’ (Sankranti festival) on January 14,” Yediyurappa told news channels in Kannada on return from New Delhi.
He, however, did not disclose names of the legislators to be inducted in the cabinet expansion, as they have to be “finalised and confirmed”.
“The list of would-be ministers will be finalised tomorrow (Monday) for taking oath in the afternoon of January 13,” added the Chief Minister.
In the 34-member ministry, seven posts are vacant to be filled in the third cabinet expansion.
During his day-long visit to the national capital on Sunday, Yediyurappa met the ruling BJP’s national leadership, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party’s national president JP Nadda and party’s Karnataka unit in-charge Arun Singh.
The chief minister had earlier suggested some names and expressed confidence that the central BJP leadership will respond positively.
Apart from the cabinet expansion, the chief minister also held discussions on the upcoming by-polls in the state for one parliamentary and two Assembly seats.
Earlier speaking to reporters in New Delhi after meeting Nadda and Shah, Yediyurappa said that he would give good news soon. “On cabinet expansion, there was a detailed discussion. You will get good news soon,” the chief minister told reporters after an hour-long meeting held at Shah’s residence in Delhi.
Asked if he is confident about completing his tenure as chief minister, Yediyurappa replied, “It is a question which only you can answer.”
The cabinet was expanded for the second time on February 6, 2020 when 10 legislators, who defected from Congress and JD-S were inducted after they won in the December 5, 2019 by-elections, caused by their resignations in July 2019, which led to the fall of the 14-month JD-S-Congress coalition government on July 23, 2019 and return of the BJP government on July 26, 2019.
The first cabinet expansion, in which 17 ministers were inducted, took place on August 20, 2019.
Yediyurappa was sworn-in as BJP Chief Minister for the third time on July 26, 2019.
(With wire inputs)
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