Portfolio allocation to 17 new ministers on Sunday: K'TAKA CM

The allocation of portfolios to 17 newly inducted ministers into his cabinet in Karnataka will take place after his return from New Delhi on Sunday, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Saturday.

Yediyurappa cited death of BJP stalwart and former finance minister Arun Jaitley, and his travel to Delhi on Sunday to pay his last respects to the departed leader as the reasons for the delay.

"I have had discussion with Amit Shah (BJP president). Today I had to send the list (of portfolios) to the Governor. As Arun Jaitley passed away, this was not the right time.

Tomorrow after coming from Delhi I will do it..everything is clear, there are no issues," Yediyurappa told reporters here.

Yediyurappa had earlier said allocation of portfolios will be done by Saturday post noon.

"I have had one-and-half hour long discussion with our national president and Home Minister Amit Shah regarding political developments in the state and other things.

By second half of the day who should be given what portfolio in the cabinet, will be finalised," he had told reporters here late last night after returning from Delhi.

Having a tight rope to walk by pacifying the disgruntled MLAs who missed out on Cabinet berth, coupled with allocation of portfolios to new ministers, Yediyurappa had left for Delhi on Thursday to consult BJP central leadership to deal with the situation.

Some disqualified former legislators of the Congress and JDS who helped bring down the coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy reportedly are also piling pressure on Yediyurappa, seeking their pound of flesh and plum portfolios.

Amid all this, talks of having Deputy Chief Ministers and one more round of cabinet expansion soon to induct couple of disgruntled MLAs has gained momentum in BJP circles, party sources said, adding that "However, there is still no final decision on this."