Wary Yeddyurappa delays cabinet reshuffle

In a bid to quell the mighty rebellion in Karnataka, Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has put on hold the proposed changes in his cabinet.

The decision was taken following a marathon meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani.

Now a fresh list proposing the cabinet changes will be issued and the chief minister has informed Raj Bhavan to tentatively make arrangements for the swearing-in of new ministers on Wednesday.

BJP sources in Karnataka maintain that the list may not come out on Wednesday as well, as Ananth Kumar, the BJP general secretary and Bengaluru South MP, is opposed to idea of a re-shuffle at the moment.

He feels that the party must concentrate on the forthcoming local body polls to be held in December and only then go ahead with the reshuffle.

The chief minister had decided to axe three ministers and induct six into the cabinet.

However, there was a huge revolt within the party and many had threatened to quit. In fact, one of the independents in the government, Gulihatti Shekhar even threatened to commit suicide if was dropped from the cabinet.

Although Shekhar had indicated that he may not be dropped after all, party sources say that his name may figure in the list, which will now be sent by the high command.