BJP Ministry expanded in Karnataka

Bangalore, Jul 10: The 40-day old BJP Ministry in Karnataka was expanded by inducting three more ministers by Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa at Raj Bhavan here on Thursday, July 10.

Karnataka Governor Rameshwar Thakur administered oath of office and secrecy to the newly appointed Ministers. The ministers who joined the ministry are Balachandra Jarakiholi, Shivanagouda Nayak and Anand Asnotikar. All the three were given cabinet rank. All the three were elected to the assembly as JD(S) and Congress legislators in the recent elections and had resigned their seats before joining the BJP.

The Congress which had criticised the BJP for inducting three of the defected former legislators into ministry boycotted the swearing in ceremony.

This was the second cabinet expansion after Mr Yeddyurappa was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 30 with 30 Ministers. In the first expansion, Mr Katta Subramanya Naidu, who was on medical treatment in Kerala, was inducted into the ministry on June four.

The BJP, which is allegedly indulged in luring legislators of opposition parties by offering positions, succeded in attracting two legislators from each of the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular).

With today's expansion the Ministry strength has touched maximum statutory limit of 34 including the Chief Minister.

UNI