The coalition partners are struggling to handle the fierce lobby launched by the aspirants of Cabinet berths a day after the new Government was installed. This has forced both the parties to postpone the Cabinet expansion.
In a clever move in ordered to escape the possible wrath of disgruntled MLAs, Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa has passed on the burden of selecting his Cabinet colleagues to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He will be meeting the top RSS leaders at Keshava Krupa in the afternoon today after the Cabinet meeting.
Minister Jagadish Shettar will accompany the Chief Minister in the consultations with the RSS leaders, who played an important role in reviving the JD (S) - BJP alliance to avoid elections on the pleas of the MLAs of both the parties. The RSS leaders will finalise today itself the list of BJP Minister to be inducted along with JD (S) Ministers. The BJP Ministers will abide by the RSS decision.
Pune Pact:
In the JD (S) camp, a group of about 25 MLAs have launched a campaign against their colleagues who have already enjoyed power as Ministers.
They are urging the party High Command (JD - S Supremo H.D. Deve Gowda) not to re - induct JD(S) MLAs, who served as Ministers during the last 40 months. This group headed by MLAs C. S. Puttaraju, Dr. Annadani, Vijayalakshmi Bandisidde Gowda, B. C. Patil and MLC K. T. Srikante Gowda met Deve Gowda to press their demands.
Talking to our correspondent, one of the MLAs, however, clarified that they have no objection for the re induction of Kumaraswamy, H. D. Revanna and M. P. Prakash.
The group has formed Kumaraswamy Legislator - Fans Association with Puttaraju (Pandavapura) as leader. They are demanding that new faces should be inducted into the Cabinet as per the Pune Pact, which was adopted by the JD (S) Legislators brain - storming session during their stay in a resort in Pune a couple of months ago. These MLAs, who held a meeting at the Legislators Home soon after Yeddyurappa was sworn - in yesterday, decided to mount pressure on the High Command not to induct the former Ministers and engage them in party work.
Later, they met former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and discussed their demand. He, however, advised them to approach the High Command.
JD (S) to extend outside support to Government?
It appears JD (S) is contemplating to extend outside support to BJP and stay away from the Yeddyurappa Cabinet.
Discussions in that context are believed to have been held at a meeting last night at the residence of JD (S) supremo H. D. Deve Gowda here.
The party's stand will be made clear in a day or two. The move to extend outside support upholds the principle of coalition and gives little scope for confrontations and squabbles thus paving way for smooth governance. Having kept BJP and Congress at equal distance, JD (S) leaders feel that sharing of power with BJP would be against the ethics and principles of JD (S).
If the Government performs well in implementing development projects, support would be extended to BJP. On the contrary if BJP tries to encourage communalism, the support to the Government can be withdrawn. Thus BJP inevitably has to be at the mercy of JD (S). The leaders in JD (S) camp apprehend that if JD (S) shares power in the Government and if the minorities' interests are affected, BJP may involve JD (S) also to be the target of blame.
Yeddy to seek trust vote on November 19:
The Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa is likely to seek vote of confidence on Nov. 19 when the State Assembly begins its session.
This follows the State Governor's instructions to Yeddyurappa who called on the former last evening.
According to sources, a letter from the Governor Rameshwar Thakur instructed the Chief Minister to seek vote of confidence before Nov. 20. Yeddyurappa held an emergency meeting of his Cabinet to discuss the issue. Earlier, the Government had decided to convene the session on Nov. 23 after JD (S) officially joins the Government on Nov. 21.
The decision was taken in consultation with the former Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy, it is said.
Courtesy: Star of Mysore
