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Yeddyurappa swearing-in tomorrow
| Janata Dal (S) likely to name its candidate for Deputy Chief Minister |
The coalition government may go in for ministry expansion after the floor test
There is a possibility of two or three members each from the two parties being sworn in
BANGALORE: A two-member Bharatiya Janata Party-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition Ministry will assume office in the State on Monday with B.S. Yeddyurappa as the BJP’s first ever Chief Minister in south India.
The Janata Dal (Secular) is to nominate a person to take oath as Deputy Chief Minister from Governor Rameshwar Thakur.
Sources in the two parties told The Hindu that the Ministry would be expanded after the coalition government proves its majority in the Legislative Assembly.
The coalition partners have convened a meeting of their respective party legislators on Sunday, ahead of the government formation.
Although three names have been doing the rounds in the Janata Dal (S) Legislature Party for the post of Deputy Chief Minister — party’s State unit president N. Merajuddin Patel, the former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the former Minister H.D. Revanna — sources in the Janata Dal (S) said it was more or less certain that Mr. Kumaraswamy would occupy the post.
A final decision was expected to be taken at the legislature party meeting after consulting the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
Mr. Merajuddin Patel said in the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party to be held on Sunday, the party leaders would convey to the party legislators the steps taken by them in government formation.
The former Minister and senior party leader, M.P. Prakash, is unlikely to attend the meeting, although he is under pressure to join the Government. However, Mr. Prakash is likely to meet Mr. Deve Gowda on Sunday and is expected to hold talks to iron out differences between them on formation of the Government.
Although there was no final word on the composition and size of the coalition ministry so far, BJP State unit president D.V. Sadananda Gowda told The Hindu that Mr. Yeddyurappa would be accompanied by a Janata Dal (Secular) leader as the Deputy Chief Minister in the first instalment on Monday.
However, prospects of the two or three members each from both parties being inducted into the Cabinet cannot be ruled out. The ministry-making exercise is expected to be completed only after the new government proves its majority on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, which is likely to be convened within a week.
A galaxy of BJP national leaders, including L.K. Advani, Rajnath Singh, Yeshwant Sinha, M. Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, are expected to arrive here on Monday to witness the swearing-in ceremony scheduled at noon.
Mr. Sadananda Gowda said the party would realise its long-time ambition. The party always looked at Karnataka as the “gateway” to South India.
The party had many challenges ahead since it overcame the Congress’s conspiracy to prevent it to from forming its first Government in South India.
The BJP leader downplayed scepticism expressed in some quarters over the stability of the coalition government and said the party would provide a stable government and complete its term.
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