Cabinet expansion before US tour: BSY

Manyda, Karnataka, Aug 24: B S Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister of Karnataka on Sunday, Aug 24 said that he would effect a reshuffle of his the cabinet before his visit to the US to attend AKKA conference later this week.

He was speaking to media after paying homage to the centenarian Sri Maridevaru Shivayogi Swamiji of Durdandeswar mutt in the district, he said minister for horticulture S K Bellubbi had agreed to resign from the ministership to help accommodate Umesh Katti who left the JD(S) recently to join the saffron party. He also clarified that there was no question of sidelining six independent legislator who had extended crucial support to the BJP after it secured 110 seats, three short of simple majority, during the last election.

Referring to the Congress leader V Somanna and others to joining the BJP, he said that Mr Somanna remained in Congress for the moment, he said without elaborating.

On the issue of the Mysore Dasara procession where the tusker Balarama carrying the golden howdah would be sent first in the procession, he said the Dasara committee would be decide on this issue.

UNI