New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who is currently on a three-day tour to Delhi, said that the list of new ministers to be inducted into his cabinet will be finalized by the BJP central leadership today. The CM added that the cabinet expansion will be done in stages, however, he didn't divulge the number of new ministers to be inducted in the first stage. "I have had detailed discussions with high command regarding the cabinet, yesterday and the day before. Most probably by 11 am you will get an official list (of new Ministers) from the Raj Bhavan, but you will get an official list mostly by 11-11:30 am," Bommai had told media on his arrival from Delhi, adding that the oath taking ceremony would take place at 2:15 PM.
Sources familiar with the developments have revealed the list of those ministers who might make it into the Cabinet - R Ashok (DCM), Shriramulu (DCM) and CN Ashwath Narayanan (DCM). Earlier, it was speculated that BY Vijayendra might be given the post of Deputy Chief Minister, however, he may not get the post for the reason that even CM Bommai is from the Lingayat community.
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Meanwhile, the tentative list of Ministers who may be included are as follows - K. S. Eshwarappa, Arvind Limbavali, J. C. Madhu Swamy, Murugesh Nirani, Aravind Bellad, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, Balachandra Jarkiholi, VA Basavaraj, S.T. Somashekhar, V. Somanna, Dr K Sudhakar, K. Gopalaiah, Umesh Katti, P Raju, S.R. Vishwanath, K Poornima, BC Patil, Kota Srinivas Poojary, M. P. Renukacharya, MP Kumaraswamy, S Angara, Dattatraya C. Patil Revoor, Shivana Gouda Naik, V. Sunil Kumar, G.H. Thippareddy, Araga Jnanendra and C. P. Yogeeshwara.
Earlier, on Tuesday, CM Bommai had met the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda in Parliament and also Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss on the issue. A detailed discussion took place with Nadda and the draft list was discussed from regional and social aspects, he said, adding that following the BJP chief's approval, the list will be sent to the Raj Bhawan on Wednesday. The cabinet will be expanded with a priority to give good governance, keeping the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls in mind, he further added. Meanwhile, it is rumoured that the High Command has recommended omitting the Deputy Chief Minister posts as they will create anxiety and unnecessary confusion among the elders and eligible.
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Bommai took oath as the chief minister on July 28, and was elected as the new leader of the BJP legislature party last week after his predecessor Yediyurappa had resigned on July 26. After taking oath as the Chief Minister Bommai had visited Delhi twice. Several discussions were held between Bommai and the central leaders in Delhi during the last couple of days, to finalize the cabinet expansion.
