Cabinet expansion to take time: Bommai

Indicating that expansion of his Cabinet may take some time, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday said he will discuss it with the party’s central leadership.

Ministerial aspirants, meanwhile, have continued lobbying to secure a berth in the new cabinet.

Bommai is going to Delhi on Friday morning to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president J.P. Nadda.

“This is my first visit (as CM), this will be to greet them and take their blessings,” the Chief Minister said.

Speaking to reporters on his arrival at Hubballi on his way to flood and rain-ravaged Uttara Kannada district, he said after his Delhi visit, he will seek the leadership’s appointment to discuss the cabinet expansion and during that trip things may be finalised.

Earlier in the day, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, in response to a question about pressure on him from Ministerial aspirants, he said, “it is common. Once someone becomes the CM and has to expand the cabinet, it is common.” He also said that the Prime Minister spoke to him over phone on Wednesday and wished him all the best, as he also expressed hopes of good administration under his leadership.

“When I go to Delhi to meet the party leadership, I will also try to meet our Members of Parliament and central Ministers from Karnataka on the pending projects and issues concerning the state,” he added.

Bommai, who was elected as the new leader of the BJP legislature party on Tuesday, following B.S. Yediyurappa’s resignation, took oath as the Chief Minister on Wednesday. —