Karnataka CM Kumaraswamy to expand his cabinet

Bangalore, Jan 24 (UNI) The much delayed expansion of Janata Dal (Secular) led coalition ministry in Karnataka will be held tomorrow with five ministers likely to be inducted in the cabinet.

Among the probable aspirants who were likely to be inducted into the cabinet were G T Devegowda, Mahima Patel, son of former Chief Minister J H Patel and Alangur Srinivas of the JD-S and Sogadu Shivanna(Tumkur) and Appu Pathan Shetty (Bijapur) of the BJP.

Talking to newspersons here BJP State President D V Sadananda Gowda released the BJP nominees and also announced a list of 17 legislators and 21 party leaders, whose names had been forwarded to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy for appointment as heads of Boards and Corporations.

While the JD(S) had three ministerial berths vacant, the BJP had two. Leaders of both the parties had already approved the names of aspirants, according to sources in both BJP and JD(S).

When the coalition assumed power on February 3 last year only Mr Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa were sworn-in. The ministry was first expanded on February 17 with the induction of 20 ministers--BJP 11 and JD(S) 9. The ministry was further expanded on June 21 to accommodate senior leaders including M P Prakash and H D Revanna, Mr Kumaraswamy's brother. This would be the third expansion.

Mr Kumaraswamy called on Governor T N Chaturvedi at Raj Bhavan this evening and apprised him of the decision. Later emerging out of Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister declined to meet mediapersons.

The Chief Minister is also likely to appoint chairmen to several boards and corporations after the cabinet expansion.

UNI