23 September,2010 06:38 AM IST | | A correspondent
Mining barons take setback in stride, say they will go with party decision
Eleven months after surviving a serious threat to his government, Chief Minister BS Yedyurappa yesterday brought back close confidante Shobha Karandlaje as a minister.
Karandlaje, ousted last winter in the face of dissidence by the powerful Reddy brothers, was among the six new faces inducted in the cabinet.
CM Yeddyurappa greets close friend Shobha Karandlajeu00a0 after being sworn-in by Governor HR Bhardwaj in Raj Bhavan.
The expansion of the BJP's only government in the South came a day after the Chief Minister sacked three ministers who were supporters of mining magnates Tourism Minister Janardhana Reddy and Revenue Minister Karunakara Reddy.
"Finally, I have got justice," said Karandlaje, who has been targeted by some sections of the BJP for wielding influence disproportionate to her standing in the party.
Power Minister
Besides Karandlaje, who has been given the power portfolio, the others who were sworn in by Governor HR Bhardwaj at a ceremony held in Raj Bhavan were A Narayanaswamy, CH Vijayashankar, CC Patil, V Somanna and SA Ramadas.
Transport Minister
R Ashoka will have additional charge of the Home Ministry, which was with VS Acharya.
The strength of the 28-month-old government has now gone up to 34, with no more vacant positions remaining.
The Reddy brothers yesterday spoke against dropping the three ministers, who they contended had helped the BJP government at a crucial time after the May 2008 election.
At the time, the BJP had fallen short of a majority by a few seats.
The three dropped ministers kept a low profile yesterday after attending the induction ceremony.
"We are happy with the party decision. We go by whatever decision the party takes," Janardhana Reddy, who was unhappy with the sacking of Aravind Limbavali, Shivanagouda Naik and Goolihatti Shekar, told reporters.
Shekar had a few days ago even threatened to commit suicide if he was dropped from the ministry.
Wait till March
Sensing the brewing discontent among legislators hoping to make it to the ministry, state unit party president KS Eswarappa said the ministry would be restructured again after March and at least three new faces would be given a chance.
The softening of stance by Janardhana and Karunanakara Reddy was attributed in BJP circles to the ongoing investigation by the CID and the Lokayukta into illegal mining and illegal export of iron ore.
Yeddyurappa, who hails from the dominant Lingayat community, also chose not to pay heed to the reported insistence by party national general secretary HN Anantkumar against carrying out the reshuffle or trying to bring his supporters into the ministry.
Opposition Leader stays
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has rejected the resignation of Siddaramaiah from the post of Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Union minister Gulam Nabi Azad said in the city yesterday.
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"Gandhi has asked Siddaramaiah to continue in the post," Azad, who is in-charge of Congress affairs in the state, told reporters.
Siddaramaiah had sent his resignation to Gandhi on September 17, owning moral responsibility for the defeat of Congress in the by-election held for Gulbarga South and Kadur assembly seats.
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While JD(S) won the Gulbarga seat, the BJP wrested Kadur seat from Congress.
