Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa on Tuesday said BJP MLC C.P. Yogeshwar will be 100% made the minister after the much-awaited expansion or reshuffle of his cabinet. “Yogeshwar will 100% be made the Minister,” said the CM in response to a question about resentment within the party against possible induction of the MLC into the cabinet.
Yogeshwar had lost the 2018 Assembly polls from Channapatna against former CM H.D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S). He is said to have played a key role by managing Congress-JD(S) rebel MLAs, during their stay in Mumbai, which gave rise to political turmoil in the state, and eventually led to the collapse of the coalition government headed by Kumaraswamy last year, and paved way for the BJP to come to power.
It is said that in recognition of his contribution for the BJP coming to power Yogeshwar was rewarded with MLC nomination in July.
Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has been lobbying for Yogeshwar’s induction into the ministry and the duo had met Yediyurappa as well as BJP central leaders in Delhi including party national president J.P. Nadda and general secretary (organisation) B.L. Santosh in this regard.
However, several MLAs who are Ministerial aspirants including CM’s political secretary M.P. Renukacharya have openly opposed the induction of Yogeshwar, citing that he is not elected by people directly and that it would scuttle their chances. Earlier, several BJP MLAs including Renukacharya had met Jarkiholi and had requested him not to lobby for Yogeshwar.
Yediyurappa has been waiting for some time now to carry out the cabinet exercise, as he was asked by Nadda during their meeting in New Delhi on 18 November to wait for the clearance from the central leadership.
The CM on Friday said that he has spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding cabinet expansion, and the central leadership will convey their decision soon and that the exercise may take place in two-three days.