BENGALURU: The resignation of senior minister KS Eshwarappa seems to have made the job of chief minister Basavaraj Bommai to rejig his cabinet much easier. However, party insiders said the BJP high command is still weighing options despite being supportive of revamping the council of ministers.
Eshwarappa’s resignation, owing to an FIR being lodged against him in connection with a contractor’s death, has increased the number of vacancies in the cabinet to five. The CM has apparently convinced the high command that filing these posts and replacing some old faces with fresh ones would help the party face the assembly elections with renewed vigour.
Bommai after his recent visit to New Delhi had told the media that the issue of cabinet reshuffle will be discussed with party national president JP Nadda during his visit to Karnataka for the state executive committee meeting.
As the executive session ended on Sunday, sources said closed-door deliberations were held about it with another round of discussions expected on Monday before Nadda’s departure to New Delhi.
Arun Singh, BJP national general secretary and Karnataka in-charge, said the party has acknowledged the importance of the exercise ahead of the elections and it will be done accordingly. “The chief minister will take the right decision at the right time in consultation with the high command,” he said.
While the high command is reportedly open minded about the cabinet rejig, sources said it is also worried about the increasing communal incidents and is looking to have a right combination in the cabinet. The leadership is especially worried about the Hubballi incident where a mob went on a rampage and tried to attack police.
“Any future exercise like revamping the government administration in the state revolves around two factors. Firstly, sending the right message about the achievements of the Modi government in the Centre and Bommai government at the state and, secondly, placing the right kind of Hindutva at the centre stage. To do this, we should have a good team in the cabinet, and yes the departure of the likes of Eshwarappa helps,” said the functionary.
As per the original plan, some of the senior ministers, including Eshwarappa, were expected to be removed from the cabinet and given party responsibility of planning the poll campaign and guiding the second line of leadership.
“Not that it was difficult for the chief minister to expand the cabinet before Eshwarappa’s resignation as everyone in our party is a disciplined soldier who will abide by high command decisions. If all goes well, the cabinet will be reshuffled before the end of this month or early May,” said BJP state general secretary and MLC N Ravikumar.
