Karnataka:7 new ministers sworn in as CM expands cabinet

The 17 month old BS Yediyurappa cabinet in Karnataka was expanded on Wednesday with the induction of seven new Ministers. Governor Vajubhai Vala administered the oath of office and secrecy to the Ministers at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan. The new Ministers are MLAs Umesh Katti (Hukkeri), S Angara (Sullia), Murugesh Nirani (Bilgi) and Arvind Limbavali (Mahadevapura), and MLCs R Shankar, M T B Nagaraj and C P Yogeshwar. 

This is the third expansion of the cabinet since Yediyurappa assumed charge in July 2019 after the collapse of the Congress-JDS government in the wake of revolt by 17 MLAs of the coalition partners. With 27 members, seven posts were earlier vacant in the cabinet. However, Excise Minister H Nagesh was  dropped from the post.  According to sources at least three of the seven new ministers -  Umesh Katti, Arvind Limbavali and Murugesh Nirani - are seen as BS Yeddiyurappa loyalists. MTB Nagaraj and CP Yogeshwar were earlier with the Congress and R Shankar was an independent who was made a minister in the Congress-JDS coalition government just before it fell last year. 

As per reports, resentment erupted within the state BJP soon after Yediyurappa announced the list of the seven ministers. The ruling party legislators have expressed serious reservations about MLCs not elected by the people being made Ministers, lack of representation to certain regions, with most Ministers still from Bengaluru and Belagavi districts and also on their "seniority or sacrifice" not being considered.Vijayapura City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal,who has been critical of Yediyurappa, accused the Chief Minister of making appointments under blackmail, without considering seniority or honesty. Alleging that the CM and his family have 'hijacked' the BJP in Karnataka, he also requested the PM to end dynastic politics from Yediyurappa's family in the state. "CM is making those who are blackmailing him Ministers.