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”These issues can be discussed if the central leadership gives time. I cannot share immediately. I can share only after the meeting and before leaving (to Bengaluru),” he told reporters here.
Bommai said he has sought an appointment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah as well as the party national president J P Nadda.
”I will meet them if they confirm,” he added.
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”I have already said I do not want to discuss in public about the cabinet reshuffle,” he said.
Pressure is mounting on the Karnataka chief minister to expand or rejig his cabinet soon, amid talks in party circles that the exercise is likely only after the upcoming assembly elections in Uttarakhand, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Goa, and Manipur.
Citing Karnataka assembly polls in 2023, several legislators, including Basanagouda Patil Yatnal and M P Renukacharya, have openly said that if the cabinet exercise is delayed and carried out after the elections in the five states, it will be too late for new ministers to make any mark, even in their constituencies.
Recently, some legislators have even been advocating a Gujarat-like overhaul of the Karnataka Cabinet soon, to make way for new faces.
In September, the BJP completely overhauled Gujarat’s Council of Ministers by selecting new faces for the Bhupendra Patel government, with no minister from the previous Vijay Rupani-led ministry being inducted.
Bommai had repeatedly stated that he is waiting for the BJP leadership’s consent on going ahead with the cabinet expansion exercise.
There are currently 30 ministers in the Karnataka Cabinet, including the chief minister, against the sanctioned strength of 34