HDK expands Cabinet, keeps brother out

The Janata Dal Secular and the BJP coalition in Karnataka on Friday inducted nine and 11 cabinet ministers each, taking the total minister...

The Janata Dal Secular and the BJP coalition in Karnataka on Friday inducted nine and 11 cabinet ministers each, taking the total ministerial strength, along with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and his BJP deputy B S Yediyurappa, to 22.

The JDS included five former ministers from the previous government in its ministry. The BJP tasting power for the first time in the state also plumped for seniority over youth and introduced three MLC party veterans into the cabinet along with eight MLAs. The portfolios for the ministers are to be announced on Saturday. Acrimonious lobbying preceded the selection of the ministers, especially in the BJP camp. State unit BJP president Jagadish Shettar, senior leader K S Eswarappa, MLCs D H Shankaramurthy, Ramachandre Gowda and V S Acharya, were rewarded for their over three decade old association with the Sangh Parivar.

The BJP also accommodated first time MLAs Sreeramulu and B Nagaraj Shetty. On his part, Kumaraswamy did not induct older brother H D Revanna8212; originally tipped to keep his portfolio in the previous government, and also left out former deputy CM M P Prakash.

Both Revanna and Prakash are on the side of Kumaraswamy8217;s father H D Deve Gowda, though they have also shown support for the new CM. The JDS awarded ministerial berths to Basavaraj Horatti, C Chennigappa, D T Jayakumar, N Cheluvarayaswamy and Iqbal Ansari who were in the Dharam Singh ministry as well. Both coalition partners have kept six posts unfilled respectively in order to prevent dissent.

Under the JDS-BJP power sharing agreement, the coalition partners will rule the state for 20 months each. The BJP with 79 MLAs has 18 ministers and the 40-member JDS faction of Kumaraswamy has 16 slots.

The other ministers from the BJP are C M Udasi, Govind Karjol, R Ashok and Katta Subramanya Naidu. Others from the JDS are Sharanabasappa Bapurgouda Darshanapur, Bandeppa Kashampur, Hanumanthappa Yelappa Alkod and Balachandra Jharkhiholi.

Gowda accepts Thippanna8217;s resignation

Bangalore: Janata Dal Secular chief H D Deve Gowda has accepted the resignation of party8217;s state unit president N Thippanna.

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Thippanna, who had identified with the rebel faction led by H D Kumaraswamy which had allied with the BJP, tendered his resignation following Gowda8217;s direction. Gowda has also accepted the resignations of party district unit presidents G T Deve Gowda Mysore, H Ningappa Tumkur, Puttaraju Mandya and Chandranna Bangalore Rural. Party sources said Gowda was also contemplating disciplinary action against Kumaraswamy and others for violating party discipline. A decision is likely to be taken at the party8217;s national executive, to be held in New Delhi next week.