Yeddyurappa to expand his ministry tomorrow

Bangalore, Aug 26(UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa will expand his cabinet tomorrow by inducting former Minister and JD(s) leader Umesh Katti, who recently joined BJP quitting his assembly seat under 'Operation Lotus'.

Party sources said that the swearing in would be held at 1600 hrs at Raj Bhavan and Governor Rameshwar Thakur would administer oath.

Mr Katti, who had elected to Karnataka legislative assembly in the May by-election from Hukkeri on Janata Dal(S) ticket, joined the ruling BJP resigning his seat. He had won defeating BJP candidate Shashikanth Akkappa Naik.

Mr Katti will be inducted in place of Mr S K Bellubbi, who was Horticulture Minister and resigned bowing to pressure from the party Mr Katti had served as the minister during 1994-99 under J H Patel government.

The ruling BJP which had emerged as single largest party after forming the first ever saffron government in the South, with the support of six independents, launched 'Operation Lotus' and succeeded in luring seven legislatures from opposition parties.

While three members have already been inducted into the ministry, three others were given promise to be appointed as the chairmen of various Board and Corporations.

Mr Yeddyurappa, who tookover the was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 30 with 29 ministers effected first expansion on June 7 by inducting Mr Katta Subramanya Naidu. The second expansion was done on July 30 by inducting three more members who had joined the party quitting their assembly seats.

Mr Katti, one of the prominent Lingayath community leader in North Karnataka is joining the ministry to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Horticulture minister S K Bellubbi.

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