No talks about cabinet rejig with party leaders: CM

By NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai clarified that no discussion was held with the top BJP leaders regarding the Cabinet rejig. They had discussed only about the coming elections to Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and local bodies as per directives of the Supreme Court.

Talking to reporters in Delhi on Saturday, he said as per directions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, discussion was held with BJP National General Secretary and In-Charge of Karnataka affairs Arun Singh regarding the list of candidates for the Legislative Council and Rajya Sabha elections.

Singh was explained about the urgency to clear the names of four candidates for the Council polls as May 24 was the last date to file nomination.

However, for Rajya Sabha polls ten days are left to finalise the names. Singh was also briefed about the resolutions adopted in the recently held core committee meeting in Bengaluru. The Delhi leaders have promised to take a decision at the earliest.

“I came to Delhi on Friday evening. I had plans to meet Amit Shah. Due to his urgent engagement, I could talk to him only over the phone. I discussed in detail and shared with him the list of probable candidates for Rajya Sabha seats from the state and for the Legislative Council polls,” he said.

The chief minister also said there was no discussion, either with Shah or with Singh, on his government’s cabinet expansion or reshuffle.

Biennial elections to four Rajya Sabha seats from Karnataka and two each to graduates’ and teachers’ constituencies of the state Legislative Council will be held on June 10 and 13 respectively.

Biennial elections to the Karnataka Legislative Council will be held on June 3.

The CM said he would go back to Bengaluru to hold a video conferencing with the DCs and CEOs of several districts in view of heavy rains being forecast by the IMD for the next two to three days.

The state government was fully geared up to meet any emergency situation that would arise out of the floods due to heavy downpour, he added.

Interestingly, Bommai is in the national capital for the second time in less than 10 days.