Shobha shut out

Stung by criticism, CM keeps her out of cabinet briefings. But, that's not the end of the story

Shobha shut out

Stung by criticism, CM keeps her out of cabinet briefings. But, that's not the end of the story

Shobha Karandlaje, favoured friend of the chief minister, hit a hattrick by missing the cabinet briefing for the third consecutive time, on Thursday.

Though B S Yeddyurappa seems to have given in to criticism, sources say he has not really given up and has something up his sleeve.

The controversy

Conventionally, it is the information minister who briefs the media following a cabinet meeting. But with Katta Subramanya Naidu preferring to stay away from the briefings, Yeddyurappa preferred Shobha, rural development and panchayat raj minister, to do the honours.

As a result, Yeddyurappa got senior minister V S Acharya to brief the media instead after the last two cabinet meetings.u00a0u00a0

Boss's orders

When BJP leader Arun Jaitley was in Bangalore last week to address dissidence in the party, he had insisted that Shobha keep away from the cabinet briefing as she was not the information minister. He had instructed the chief minister to assign the job to a senior minister.

But, sources say that Yeddyurappa has not really given up and could end up making Shobha the information minister.

"Somanna has been temporarily given the housing portfolio. A reshuffle is in the offing," said the source. "Then Shobha is expected to get her favourite portfolio."

Somanna, who quit the Congress to join the BJP last month, was sworn in on Thursday.

Though, he was allocated the housing ministry, Somanna is expected to soon get a strongeru00a0 portfolio such as forest and environment or rural development.

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