Karnataka cabinet expansion: CM Basavaraj Bommai, Nalin Kateel meet leaders in Delhi

The BJP central leadership is likely to take a call on the cabinet expansion in Karnataka four months before the assembly elections.

Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai and state BJP president Nalin Kumar Kateel were in Delhi on Monday to discuss the issue with the party leadership. The two leaders first met BJP national president JP Nadda in the presence of BJP general secretary (organisation) BL Santosh and general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Arun Singh. Later, the leaders also met Union home minister Amit Shah at his residence. Initially, only Bommai was supposed to come to Delhi to meet the party leaders. However, on Sunday evening, Kateel was also called to be present at the meeting.

There are five vacant cabinet positions in Karnataka and there is pressure from leaders such as KS Eshwarappa and Ramesh Jarkiholi to be inducted into the cabinet. Eshwarappa had resigned from the Cabinet in April this year after he was accused of abetting the alleged suicide of a contractor named Santosh Patil. He was given a clean chit by the police. Jarkiholi had resigned after his name appeared in a sex tape scandal.


Apart from these two, some new faces could also get a chance in the cabinet, balancing the political equations before the elections. However, the decision would only be taken by the central leadership which still wants a discussion on the subject. Sources told ET that the central leadership has directed Bommai and Kateel to discuss the cabinet expansion issue with the state party leaders.

On December 30, Amit Shah will visit Karnataka, and he will also discuss the subject with the local leadership. Sources told ET that if a cabinet expansion takes place, it will happen after the ongoing assembly session ends -- that is, after December 30.

The state leaders also discussed the issue of reservation in the state. With the state assembly approving the increase in SC/ST reservation, Karnataka has now crossed the limit of 50% reservation as it currently has 56% reservation now.