Cabinet expansion in a couple of days: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said he is likely to get a message from the BJP high command on cabinet expansion in a couple of days and will have to leave for New Delhi once again to finalise it.

"I couldn't meet J P Nadda (BJP national president) today, but had met him yesterday. Most likely they will send a message to me in two days and I'll have to go to Delhi once again. We will finalise the cabinet," Bommai said.

Asked whether the cabinet expansion will take place in two stages, he told reporters here on his arrival from Delhi that it cannot be revealed now.

Bommai was on a two-day visit to Delhi during which he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Nadda, a host of central ministers, MPs and ministers from Karnataka, among others. Ministerial aspirants, meanwhile, have continued lobbying to secure a berth in the new cabinet.

While several legislators, including some former ministers, are camping in Delhi and are lobbying to make it to the new cabinet, some have openly expressed their aspirations. According to party sources, some legislators like Ramesh Jarkiholi, M P Renukacharya and Munirathna met former chief minister B S Yediyurappa at his residence here.

Demanding a ministerial post, Haveri MLA Neharu Olekar said he should be given an opportunity in the new cabinet and it is the wish of party workers from the constituency, who have even staged a demonstration.

"Our fight will not end. This is the third time and I should be given the opportunity... I'm confident that the leaders will bless me. No opportunity has been given so far to anyone from the Chalawadi community by BJP, while Congress has given...so there is the fear of them shifting towards Congress," he said.

Senior BJP leader and former minister K S Eshwarappa said he has been getting several calls stating that he should have been made chief minister after Yediyurappa was removed and at least he should be made deputy CM now.

"It is for the high command to decide," he said.

Stating that cabinet formation is left to the discretion of the Chief Minister, another senior leader and former minister V Somanna said Basavaraj Bommai is close to him and has experience.

"His father was also a CM, and will choose his cabinet ministers."

Downplaying reports of a rift between him and another senior BJP leader R Ashoka, he said "it is an internal matter between us. It is an old issue and has nothing to do with cabinet formation or becoming a minister."