Ahead of CM visit, aspirants Delhi-bound

Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: With rumors of a Cabinet rejig doing the rounds in political circles, aspirants are heading to the national capital to improve their prospects

But sources close to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai told News Trail that there is no chance of any such exercise till the results of the Assembly elections in five states are announced on March 10. Besides, BJP National President J.P. Nadda, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National General Secretary and In-charge of Karnataka affairs, Arun Singh are busy finalizing candidates for the poll-bound states. When they are tied up with the crucial Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Uttarakhand elections, how can Karnataka lawmakers expect them to devote time to Cabinet expansion, ask these sources.

According to these sources, the purpose of Bommai visiting Delhi is different-Delhi leaders want to consult the CMs of BJP ruled states and seek their suggestions with regard to the Assembly polls and how Karnataka leaders can pitch in to woo voters. Besides, Bommai has gone to meet Union ministers to get pending projects approved and to get funds released for ongoing works in order to get them completed before the 2023 Assembly polls. A number of highway upgradation projects are pending with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and the CM has plans to meet him personally to get the projects sanctioned.

Despite all this, BJP lawmakers are meeting in groups to think up ways to impress the high command for their entry into the Cabinet. They include the CM’s Political Secretary M.P. Renukacharya, Vijayapura City MLA Basangouda Patil Yatnal and Chitradurga MLA Tippareddy who want to impress the top brass about how important they are for the party.
A few MLAs held a meeting at the official residence of Renukacharya to work out a strategy and have reportedly booked tickets for Delhi on Monday. Both Yatnal and Renukacharya are on the edge and raring to join the Cabinet, sources said.

Deputy CMs on the cards
The sources pointed out that when the rejig happens, the chances of two or three deputy chief minister posts being created cannot be ruled out in the wake of Assembly polls next year. Transport Minister B.Sriramulu was promised the DyCM post by Bommai’s predecessor, B.S.Yediyurappa but it did not happen. The strongman of Ballari is miffed with the BJP for not considering his seniority and making him DyCM

Being a noted Nayaka community leader, the demand of Sriramulu may be considered as Scheduled Tribe voters are in a majority in Ballari, Gadag, Dharwad, Haveri, Chitradurga and Davangere. Since Lingayat, Kuruba, Vokkaliga and Dalit community leaders have already been made DyCM, it is now the turn of a ST leader, said sources.