In a first, Karnataka's lone Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA N Mahesh was sworn in as a minister in the state's cabinet on Wednesday, 6 June. With this, Mahesh becomes the first BSP MLA outside Uttar Pradesh to become a minister.
The development has largely been credited to Mayawati's political acumen, who reportedly aided the Janata Dal (Secular) and the Congress in Karnataka forge a post-poll alliance.
And now, the BSP chief ensured that her lone MLA was offered a ministerial berth by convincing both HD Kumaraswamy and Rahul Gandhi, reported The Times of India.
Mahesh, who had recently attended the All-India BSP convention in Lucknow reportedly told the daily that the HD Devegowda government in Karnataka would complete its full term.
Mayawati's BSP had contested the Karanataka elections in a pre-poll alliance with the JD(S).
Twenty five of the 32 ministers took oath on Wednesday, including 13 Congress MLAs, 1 Congress MLC, 9 JD(S) MLAs, 1 BSP MLA and 1 independent MLA. According to The Indian Express, while the JD(S) allotted ministership based on seniority, the Congress camp allocated berths bearing in mind caste and regional dynamics.
As per the terms of the post-poll alliance, the Congress was given 22 cabinet berths, while the JD(S) was given 12 positions.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)