K’TAKA CABINET LIKELY TO BE EXPANDED TODAY

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Tuesday said the much awaited expansion of his cabinet is likely to take place on January 13 and a list of new ministers to be inducted will be released by the evening.

Though he has indicated that seven new faces will be inducted, the chief minister has maintained suspense over any of the incumbent ministers being dropped from the cabinet.

“I have planned to hold the swearing-in of new Ministers at 4 pm tomorrow if everything goes accordingly. The names you are speculating on TV channels are far from the truth, unnecessarily don’t take names, I will release the list by evening,” Yediyurappa said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said with the swearing-in most likely at 4pm tomorrow, those who will be taking oath will be informed later in the evening today.

Asked if any of the Ministers will be dropped from the cabinet, he merely said, “it will be known tomorrow.”

The CM had on Monday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party national president JP Nadda and the party general secretary in-charge of state Arun Singh will be invited for the swearing-in.

On Sunday he had held discussions with Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi about the cabinet exercise, following which he indicated that seven members will be inducted. There are speculations within the BJP circles, also in the section of media that a couple of Ministers are likely to be dropped.