Rejig: BJP top brass cracks whip

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: The BJP high command has asked its ministers and legislators not to make public comments on cabinet reshuffle or expansion as it is seized of the matter.

“We know when to do it. The ministers and lawmakers stop talking about it. We will do it at the right time”, Delhi leaders are learnt to have told Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai asking him to convey the message to all.

For the last one week, the corridors of power are agog with rumours of cabinet expansion with legislators meeting in groups to discuss who would make it to the council of ministers. It all began with Vijayapura City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Honnali MLA and the CM’s Political Secretary M.P. Renukacharya closeted in Vidhana Soudha last week to discuss their cabinet prospects. The next meeting was by Forest Minister Umesh Katti with a group of Belagavi legislators. Later, a group of Bengaluru BJP lawmakers too reportedly held a secret meeting to work out a strategy.

These meeting in groups have upset the Delhi top brass who have asked Bommai and State BJP President Nalinkumar Kateel to keep the groups under control as the high command does not have time to think about the cabinet reshuffle till March 10 when the results of the five Assembly elections will be announced. Till then they must keep quiet without putting pressure on the CM who may face embarrassment before the media. The fighting among the BJP’s ministerial aspirants has also become a tool for the Opposition Congress to target the ruling party, said the leadership.

Sources say Leaders like Renukacharya, Yatnal and Chitradurga MLA Chowdareddy have even given the names of senior ministers who must be dropped and assigned party work. Some of them want the high command to carry out the cabinet reshuffle immediately since they would have 14 months to launch the slew of developmental programmes across the state and get public support before the polls.

A senior leader told News Trail that Kateel does not seem to have control over anybody which could be the reason why there are so many ‘loose cannons’ in the BJP.