Much-awaited cabinet expansion to be held to Jan 13 at 4 pm

Bengaluru: Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said the much-awaited cabinet expansion or reshuffle of his cabinet will take place on January 13 at 4 pm.

Yediyurappa said that the list of newly-selected ministers will be also be announced on Wednesday, January 13.

Yediyurappa has been waiting for some time now to carry out the Cabinet exercise, as he was asked by the BJP president during their meeting in New Delhi on November 18, to wait for the clearance from the central leadership.

The cabinet expansion or reshuffle is expected to be a tightrope walk for the Chief Minister, considering that there are too many aspirants, from the party old guard to Congress- JD(S) rebels who are now BJP legislators.

While several of the old guards like Umesh Katti (eight-time MLA) and Arvind Limbavali are waiting for a chance to be inducted into the Cabinet, Congress-JD(S) rebels like Munirathna, R Shankar and M T B Nagaraj, who helped the BJP come to power and are now party legislators, are also aspiring for slots.

While Munirathna is now BJP MLA from RR Nagar, Shankar and Nagaraj are MLCs.

Yediyurappa had recently also indicated that MLC CP Yogeshwar, who is said to have played a key role by managing Congress-JD(S) rebel MLAs, during the political turmoil in the State in 2019, that eventually led to BJP to come to power, will be inducted into the Cabinet.

The cabinet currently has 27 members, and seven berths are still vacant.