Balancing act: BS Yediyurappa, rival get say in cabinet of 17 ministers

BENGALURU: Chief minister BS Yediyurappa, who had been single-handedly running the government for the past 26 days amid devastating rain and floods in the state, heaved a sigh of relief as 17 ministers took oath on Tuesday. The respite is likely to be short-lived as the CM has to quell rebellion among those left out and keep ministers from his rival camp in check.
The final list of cabinet picks, released well past midnight on Monday, appeared to be a work of consensus, including loyalists of Yediyurappa and his bete noire BL Santosh, BJP’s national general secretary. The high command left 16 berths vacant to accommodate malcontents and some of the disqualified Congress-JD(S) MLAs, should the Supreme Court restore their status in the assembly. Several BJP legislators have expressed resentment and announced efforts to pressure the state and central leadership.
Prominent names in the ministry include former CM Jagadish Shettar, KS Eshwarappa, R Ashoka, JC Madhuswamy, CN Ashwathnarayan, S Suresh Kumar, Basavaraj Bommai and CT Ravi. Some were rewarded for their alleged role in bringing the party to office by persuading rebel MLAs to resign. The CM is yet to allocate portfolios to the newly-inducted ministers.