“I will go to Delhi (to discuss cabinet expansion) soon,” Bommai told reporters.
Chitradurga, Karnataka:
Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he would soon visit New Delhi to meet the BJP’s central leadership to discuss the cabinet exercise, but maintained suspense over whether it would be an expansion or reshuffle.
He said that the BJP high command will finally decide who is to be included in the cabinet.
“I will be going to Delhi soon (to discuss cabinet expansion),” Bommai told reporters in response to a question.
When asked whether the senior citizens of the district would be given an opportunity to be treated as “step-motherly”, he said, “It is not step-treating, due to the political situation, representation cannot be given (to Chitradurga), will be given. Try it.”
Asked whether leaders who resigned from ministries after certain allegations (like KS Eshwarappa, Ramesh Jarkiholi) would be included as some of them have met party leaders, the chief minister said, “I am not taking questions of guesswork.” Can’t answer… All candidates try, but in the end it is the high command that decides.”
When asked whether it would be an expansion or reshuffle of the cabinet, he only said, “Wait and see.” Earlier, Mr Bommai had said on Tuesday that he would travel to New Delhi this week to discuss the cabinet exercise with the party leadership.
The chief minister has been under tremendous pressure for some time now over the expansion and reshuffle of the cabinet to not make room for new faces ahead of next year’s assembly elections.
However, there were reports of cabinet expansion by filling six vacancies or by excluding some and inducting an equal number of new faces, even as a complete overhaul of state ministry from top to bottom like Gujarat. There can be rumours too. Nothing has happened so far, and many candidates feel that “it is too late” as elections are fast approaching.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)