Ten BJP MLAs to take oath as Ministers on Thursday:Yediyurappa

In a reflection of the discontent and squabbling over the long-awaited cabinet expansion in Karnataka, only ten BJP MLAs, all defectors from Congress and JDS, would be inducted as ministers on Thursday, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said on Wednesday.

Following my discussion with the party president and other leaders in Delhi, it has been decided to induct only 10 as ministers on Thursday, Yediyurappa told reporters here.

The swearing-in ceremony would take place on Thursday at 10.30 a.m at the Raj Bhavan.

Yediyurappa said Athani MLA Mahesh Kumathalli, among the 11 rebel Congress and MLAs who had won on BJP tickets in the December byelections after being disqualified, was being left out in the second expansion of the six-month old cabinet.

The revolt by the rebels led to collapse of the Congress- JDS coalition Ministry in July last year, paving the way for the formation of the BJP government.

At present, there are 18 ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the cabinet that has a sanctioned strength of 34. Sixteen berths are vacant.

Regarding the three other "native BJP leaders" whom he had earlier indicated would be made ministers, Yediyurappa said the party high command has asked him to discuss the matter with them in Delhi.

The Chief Minister had announced on Sunday that 13 BJP leaders, including the 10 MLAs who had defected from the Congress and the JD(S), would take oath on Thursday.

On Kumathalli, Yediyurappa on Wednesday said "It is difficult to make him (Mahesh Kumathalli) minister now. I will call him and discuss with him. We will try to give him some other responsibility.

The Chief Minister had earlier promised ministerial berths to all of them.

Another person whom he was keen on making minister was Hukkeri MLA Umesh Katti.However, Katti will also not make it to Yediyurappas cabinet this time.

There is no doubt about making Umesh Katti minister. He was also supposed to take oath tomorrow but it has been decided to administer oath to only 10 MLAs, he said.

Ever since Yediyurappa made announcement about the cabinet expansion, ministerial aspirants in the party started making a pitch for their case.

"Native BJP leaders and another group comprising MLAs from erstwhile Hyderabad-Karnataka region emerged with each demanding ministerial posts.

Apparently keen to avoid any rebellion, the party high command after discussing with the Chief Minister decided to induct only 10 people in the cabinet.

Earlier after Yediyurappa indicated that three 'native BJP' leaders would also be inducted, rumour mills were agog that they could be Mahadevapura MLA Arvind Limbavali, Umesh Katti and C P Yogeshwar, who had lost to former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy from Channapatna.

The two defectors who unsuccessfully contested the by- election have been pushing for cabinet berth for them as a "mark of tribute to their sacrifice of leaving their former party, resigning from the assembly and getting disqualified by the Speaker only to install the BJP government."