BJP loyalists fume as Yeddyurappa inducts defectors into Cabinet

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s move to induct into his Cabinet three defectors from rival parties has left the loyalist BJP MLAs fuming.

The swearing in ceremony of three defectors - two from the JD (S) and one from the Congress, who had resigned from the Assembly seats earlier this week to join the BJP - held at Raj Bhavan on Thursday evening was not attended by a large number of party MLAs, particularly the ones aspiring for ministerial berths.

BJP’s state unit President D V Sadananda Gowda, former Federal Minister Ananthakumar and Energy Minister K S Eshwarappa were also conspicuous by their absence.

Several BJP MLAs including four-time MLA H S Shankarlinge Gowda, besides Narayanaswamy and C T Ravi are believed to be nursing a strong heartburn over Yeddyurappa’s decision to induct into the Cabinet Balachandra Jharkiholi, Shivananda Naik and Anand Asnotikar, who had been elected as MLAs of JD (S) and Congress during the May 2008 elections.

The expansion of the Yeddyurappa-led cabinet on Thursday takes its strength to the constitutional ceiling of 34 allowed for Karnataka.

Shankarlinge Gowda has openly expressed his disappointment over his exclusion from the Cabinet and blamed “unseen” hands behind the denial of a ministerial berth to him. “Various sections of the people have reposed their faith in me and elected me as an MLA for the fourth consecutive term and hoped that I would become a minister. Some unseen hands had come together to hatch a conspiracy against me”, Gowda said.

However, Yeddyurappa denied that there was resentment in the party over his decision to give ministerial berth to newcomers. “I hope they understand the compulsions of forming a stable Government, especially because we have come to power for the first time”, he said.

The BJP had secured 110 seats in a 224 member-house and was dependent on the support of six independents for its survival. After successfully luring a total of five Opposition MLAs including three from Congress and two from JD (S), the BJP provided ministerial berths to three of them and promised chairmanship of a Board or Corporation to the remaining two.
Meanwhile, the three newly inducted Ministers, who have already resigned from the Assembly, will have to be re-elected within the next months if they are to continue as Ministers.