Minister aspirants wait for ‘Chanakya’ to push credentials

By Shyam Sundar Vattam | NT

Bengaluru: With Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai making public news of the arrival of Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Karnataka on May 3, MLAs aspiring to be made ministers have become hyper active. A number of them want to present their credentials to the strongman of BJP, so he shows the green signal for their induction into the Bommai cabinet.

If the CM had not disclosed this, a majority of BJP lawmakers would have reached Delhi ahead of Bommai to welcome him at the Karnataka Bhavan. Whenever he goes to Delhi, be it on an official or private visit, some MLAs follow him and reach the national capital even before him to be around in order to show their loyalty. Maybe to avoid their coming to Delhi, Bommai informed the BJP MLAs that ‘Chanakya’ would be coming to Karnataka on May 3.

As per sources, some MLAs hoping to become a minister for at least the next 12 months have gone to meet former CM BS Yediyurappa, BJP National Organising Secretary BL Santosh, Basavaraja Bommai and other senior BJP leaders to use their influence for considering them for a minister’s post. Some of the aspirants like MP Renukacharya, Arvind Bellad, P Rajeev, Poornima Ganesh, Chowdareddy, SA Ramdas, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, AS Patil Nadahalli among others were telling the media of their readiness to accept any responsibility given by the high command.

At the same time, the existing senior ministers are not willing to make way for the new faces and are putting pressure on the Delhi leaders to retain them in the interest of the party. They are planning to meet Amit Shah during his visit to the state next week and request him in this regard. But, the high command is not ready to listen to them as they want the party to retain power in the State on the lines of Uttar Pradesh.

The sources also said that Amit Shah is expected to sit with Bommai and finalise names of MLAs to be inducted into the Cabinet and those to be dropped. Once this is done, the swearingin ceremony may take place during the second week of May. At the same time, all existing chairmen of various boards and corporations could be dropped and new ones appointed. Since it is not possible to accommodate everyone in the Cabinet, MLAs who get left out will be accommodated in important boards and corporations. The party would like to keep all MLAs happy in view of the Assembly polls to be held in the next one year. Any dissident would dent the party image. “Shah and BJP National President JP Nadda are likely to have one round of meeting before giving their nod for the Cabinet expansion in Karnataka”, a source added.