Cabinet expansion may take place within next week, says new Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

Expanding the Ministry will be the first big challenge before Bommai

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai Friday said the Cabinet expansion could take place within next week as he sought early approval from the party top brass.

The CM who was in Delhi on his first visit to the capital after assuming charge as the CM, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP National president J P Nadda.

"Explained the necessity of early Cabinet expansion in a meeting with BJP president J P Nadda," the CM told reporters adding that, "We will get the nod within next week. I have not discussed the list of probables in today's meeting.”

Bommai said he may visit Delhi again on this issue and sought time from the BJP high command.

Stating that he has spoken to senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who has decided not to be part of the new cabinet, Bommai said he will meet him personally and discuss about it with the party leadership.

"I have told him (Shettar) that I will come and speak to him personally.We have close bonding as we have grown together.We were friends even before we came to politics, so I have good regard, love and affection towards him and he too has similar feelings for me.We had a good relationship even when we were in different parties," he said.

Shettar said, as he is a senior leader and a former Chief Minister, he has decided to opt out, and has got good response for his stand from various quarters, across the State.

"Despite being a former Chief Minister, I was part of Yediyurappa's cabinet because Yediyurappa is our senior and tallest leader of the party and I was Minister under him earlier too, there was no uneasiness there. But in today's situation, I'm a senior leader, so I'm not joining," Shettar said.

If anyone else had become CM also, his decision would have been the same, Shettar added.

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The CM also held a detailed meeting with Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi and sought his help to get early approval for the expansion of the Cabinet to attend tasks related to flood and Covid-19 pandemic. Sources sid that the party top leaders asked him to discuss with state leaders and prepare a list and come to Delhi for final approval.

Bommai also made it clear that his government will not be a "rubber stamp".

The CM said during his meeting with the PM he discussed vaccination shortage in the state. "The Prime Minister has assured full support," he added.

“Amit Shah told me that it is testing time. He also told me to work hard,” Bommai said, adding that Nadda also asked him to take steps to strengthen the party.

Meanwhile, Bommai announced setting up of a small working group to fast-track clearances of central projects and make Karnataka commissionerate in Delhi proactive and accountable.

Bommai also called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

In the meeting, the CM sought PM's approval for AIIMS in Hubballi-Dharwad and AIIMS-like institute for Raichur. He also appealed to the PM to upgrade ESIC Medical College & Hospital in Kalaburagi to a regional AIIMS-like Institute.

(With PTI inputs)