Portfolios of new Karnataka ministers by Saturday: CM

The portfolios of 10 Karnataka ministers inducted into the Cabinet earlier in the day would be allocated by Saturday, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said on Thursday.

"The portfolios will be finalised by Saturday in consultation with the BJP central and state leadership and forwarded to the Governor for approval," Yediyurappa told reporters here.

Governor Vajubhai Vala earlier administered the oath of office to 10 ruling party MLAs at Raj Bhavan, a month after they re-contested the December 5 by-elections and were declared elected on December 9.

"Many of the 17 ministers inducted during the first Cabinet expansion on August 20 were holding more than one portfolio as 16 slots in the 34-member ministry remained vacant till Wednesday. The allocation will ease the burden on them as well as me since I am also holding some portfolios," Yediyurappa said.

"I will go to Delhi next week after the Delhi Assembly election results (February 11) to finalise the names of party MLAs to fill the remaining six Cabinet vacancies ahead of the Assembly Budget session from March 2," he added.

Among the 10 new ministers, eight are former Congress leaders and two Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) rebels whose resignations in mid-July along with seven other dissident legislators led to the fall of the 14-month-old coalition government on July 23. It facilitated the return of the BJP to power in the state again.

Though 13 MLAs were to be inducted in the second Cabinet expansion, only 10 took oath. The inclusion of three more was deferred over fears of a revolt by dissidents lobbying for ministerial berths.

Eight time party legislator Umesh Katti, lawmaker Arvind Limbavalli and former legislative council member C.P. Yogeshwar, who were eyeing Cabinet posts, skipped Thursday's oath-taking ceremony as their names were dropped from the list last night.

"I have assured Katti that he would be made minister in the next Cabinet expansion. As only six more can be accommodated in the 34-member Ministry, names of five others will be decided in consultation with the party high command," the Chief Minister said.

Even Congress rebel turned BJP lawmaker Mahesh Kumathalli, who was re-elected in the by-elections, kept away from the swearing-in ceremony as he too was left out.IANS