First generation BJP leaders unlikely to get ministerial posts in Karnataka

With the new Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai at the helm, talks are ripe in Karnataka politics that the seniors are unlikely to get ministerial posts. Top sources in the party say that most of the first generation BJP leaders won't be getting ministry in the to-be-formed Cabinet.

Bengaluru: Even before the new Cabinet could take shape, former chief minister Jagadish Shettar told ETV Bharat yesterday made it clear that he won't be a part of the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. Top sources in the party say that most of the first generation BJP leaders won't be getting ministerial berths in Bommai's Cabinet.

Jagadish Shettar was vocal about not being a part of the cabinet. But the chances of senior leaders like Suresh Kumar, KS Eshwarappa and Govind Karjola of getting into the Cabinet is unlikely with the party high command deciding to use the seniors in strengthening BJP in the state. As the seniors who were part of every BJP cabinet deployed to party-building activities, the new faces in the party will get ministerial berths.

In a recent viral audio in which the voice apparently sounded like BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel said that Yediyurappa will be replaced by our man. Seniors like Shettar and Eshwarappa will be out of the cabinet. People from Delhi will come.

The audio clip was in Tulu language predominantly spoken in the Canara region consisting of Kasaragod district of Kerala, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka. Since Kateel hails from the region, the clip was supposedly linked to him, but Kateel denied stating that it was not his voice and demanded a probe. The viral audio issue subsided after the change in the chief ministerial role dominated Karnataka politics.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed Chief Minister Bommai will be visiting Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president JP Nadda this week, and the Cabinet formation decisions will follow later.

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