Karnataka ministry to be expanded, sans Reddy brothers

Bangalore:  Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda will be expanding his ministry today with the induction of five more ministers while keeping out the mining magnates Reddy brothers and their close associate Sreeramulu.

According to sources in the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Raju Gowda, C P Yogeshwar, Anand Asnotikar, Balachandra Jarkiholi and independent MLA Varthur Prakash are likely to be sworn-in today evening.

Karunakara Reddy Janardhana Reddy and their close associate Sreemalu, were the three ministers in BJP’s first government in the South, headed by B S Yeddyurappa who are not likely to be included in the ministry. They were indicted in the Lokayukta report on the illegal mining issue.

The second ministry expansion that Gowda is carrying out after he inducted 21 ministers on 8 August in a hurried exercise, will still leave seven vacancies.

Gowda succedeed B S Yeddyurappa as the chief minister on 4 August after  a Lokayukta report on illegal mining was indicted against the former minister.

Even as there are many ministerial berth aspirants within BJP, the party high command has chosen to accommodate Varthur Prakash, who has been supporting the government in tune with the promise held out to him earlier.

Sringeri MLA D N Jeevaraj, who recently quit as Government Chief Whip with hopes of joining the ministry, has not been chosen in today’s round of expansion.

Governor H R Bhardwaj has been requested to administer oath of office and secrecy to new ministers in Raj Bhavan at 6 PM, the sources said.

PTI