Karnataka: A day of cabinet woes, strife for BJP

BANGALORE: Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda is all set to make yet another attempt to get the green signal from the BJP bosses in Delhi for his Cabinet expansion plans even as his predecessor B S Yeddyurappa is eagerly awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision whether or not to refer cases against him to the CBI.
Gowda, who will be in Delhi with an all-party delegation on Wednesday to press for Central assistance to tackle the prevailing drought, will also meet BJP national leaders and seek permission to fill 11 vacancies in his Cabinet.
Unlike earlier, Gowda now seems more confident and assertive in seeking the permission as the demand for Cabinet expansion is growing among legislators. In fact, a signature campaign is being carried out by a few MLAs under the leadership of Chikmagalur MLA C T Ravi - a follower of the anti-Yeddyurappa camp - demanding immediate Cabinet expansion and also re-allocation of portfolios.
According to sources, 40 MLAs have signed the memorandum to be submitted to the party high command and many more are expected to join the bandwagon as everybody wants to make it to Cabinet.
Ravi told Express that his team of MLAs would decide on meeting party national president by Wednesday while refusing to divulge the numbers on his side. It is being said that a few MLAs of the Yeddyurappa camp have also joined the signature campaign as they are uncertain about the future of their leader.
Trying to utilise the situation to their advantage, Gowda and state BJP president K S Eshwarappa are trying to impress upon national leaders for the Cabinet expansion.
But it remains to be seen whether the party high-command, which is also divided over the leadership issue in Karnataka, would continue to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision or take the risk of neglecting Yeddyurappa and permit the Cabinet expansion.
The Supreme Court is expected to pronounce its verdict on the CEC’s recommendation to conduct a CBI inquiry into the allegations against Yeddyurappa on May 4.

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