It has been over 250 days since Basavaraj Bommai took charge as the chief minister of Karnataka, and over eight months since a new set of legislators took office as cabinet ministers.
Speaking at the inauguration of the state Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) executive meet in Hubbali on 16 April, the chief minister said, "I am certain that people will welcome us for the positive impact that we have had on our state."
However, the reality is that the current cabinet under the new chief minister has hardly anything to show, and he could be at the verge of attempting a cabinet rejig.
Speaking to The Quint, economist Prof Narendar Pani said, "There is nothing on the development front you can associate with this government." Instead, the ministers and legislators in the Bommai government have fallen prey to controversies of sex-tapes, communal clashes, corruption, and an alleged abetment to suicide.
Pressure Mounts on CM Bommai To Expand or Rejig Cabinet
Now, CM Bommai is under pressure to prove his mettle to the central leadership, and is also being pursued by local aspirants to rejig the existing cabinet. In this regard, Bommai has admitted to a likely cabinet reshuffle and expansion in the next few weeks, but with the BJP high command's approval.
Speaking to The Quint, a highly placed source in the BJP said, "The chief minister has been very busy and engaged. But the cabinet expansion is likely to happen in May."
The source further said that, discussions for allocating portfolios are underway. "The final decision is likely to happen before the 15-day state-wide tour which begins on 27 May." The CM and other leaders of the BJP are expected to tour the state to prepare the cadre for 2023 Legislative Assembly elections.
As of now, there are a total of 29 ministers who are sharing 34 portfolios in Karnataka.
According to sources, Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, BJP State Vice-President BY Vijayendra, CM Bommai's Political Secretary and Honnali MLA MP Renukacharya, Vijayapura MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, and Dharwad South MLA Aravind Bellad are likely to be inducted into the new cabinet.
However, there is no clear indication as to who would get what portfolio.
Aspirants Hopeful Ahead of CM Bommai's Meet in Delhi
A day after CM Bommai said that the BJP's central leadership will take a call on cabinet expansion, former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi rushed to meet the chief minister.
Jarkiholi was dropped in 2021 following allegations of sexual harassment.
Insiders in the BJP think that Jarkiholi demanded a ministerial portfolio by leveraging his hold over his brother MLC Lakhan Jarkiholi, who can help pass the anti-conversion bill in the state's Legislative Council. Lakhan Jarkiholi is an independent candidate whose swing vote can pass the bill in the state's Upper House.
Another candidate who could be considered is BS Yediyurappa's younger son BY Vijayendra. He is believed to have played a major role in getting Congress and JDS MLAs over to the BJP's side in 2019, but was not given any cabinet position. However, he could be inducted into the cabinet simply to woo the Lingayat voters.
VIjayendra could end up in the cabinet also because the BJP wants to please his father, senior leader of the party BS Yediyurappa.
MLA of Honnalli MP Renukacharya, who is also the political secretary of CM Bommai and a close confidant of BS Yediyurappa, had not made it to the cabinet last year. But, Renukacharya has been constantly lobbying for a ministerial berth. In January 2022, he and MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal said, "Why not new faces? Are we not eligible to become ministers?"
BJP and CM Walking a Tightrope
A BJP MLA from Karnataka who wished to remain anonymous told The Quint, "CM Bommai met with BJP national president JP Nadda and national general secretary BL Santosh to get a 'go ahead' for expansion. However, another round of meetings will take place to decide allocation."
The source further said that the cabinet rejig is being planned keeping in mind the upcoming Assembly elections. "While some of our colleagues are demanding a complete overhaul (of the cabinet), the leadership in Delhi doesn't want to upset the seniors here in the state."
CM Bommai is scheduled to meet with the party's senior leadership in Delhi on 30 April and around eight new faces are likely to be inducted into the cabinet. Speaking to media persons in Vijayapura, CM Bommai said, "The party's top brass has not called me to discuss about cabinet expansion yet. I will inform you about it when it is decided in Delhi." This decision also comes at a time when BJP is gearing for full-fledged campaign for the upcoming assembly elections in May 2023.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)