Date:12/05/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/05/12/stories/2006051207150400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BJP forms panel to choose ministers

Special Correspondent

Four-member committee set up to select nominees

Panel includes D.V. Sadananda Gowda, B.S. Yediyurappa and D.H. Shankaramurthy
Party to ask Chief Minister to fix date for expansion of Ministry

Panel will finalise list on the day before the expansion

Bangalore: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) appears to have resolved the differences with regard to selection of party nominees for appointment as ministers.

The party has constituted a four-member committee to select the ministers. It includes State party president D.V. Sadananda Gowda, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and Higher Education Minister D.H. Shankaramurthy.

The party is going to inform Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to go ahead and fix the date for the expansion of the Ministry. The committee will meet one day before that date and finalise the BJP list.

Meanwhile, Shobha Karandlaje, BJP MLC, has alleged that some in the party had conspired to defame her and Mr. Yediyurappa with regard to certain statements on the appointment of new ministers. She said here on Wednesday that she was never an aspirant for ministership. Mr. Yediyurappa's name being dragged into the controversy was uncalled for. She regarded him as a "father figure," she said.

Reports refuted

Health and Family Welfare Minister R. Ashok on Wednesday came out with a statement refuting reports in a section of the press that some of the ministers had threatened to resign if Ms. Karandlaje were to be included in the Ministry. Everyone was bound to accept the decision of the party's national president Rajnath Singh and Mr. Sadananda Gowda. There was no dissidence in the party with regard to expansion, he said.