Former Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa declines his cabinet rank status accorded by the newly elected CM Basavaraj Bommai led government.
The government on Saturday issued an order providing all the benefits of a cabinet rank minister to the ex-cm till Bommai remains in power.
According to the CNN News 18 report, BS Yediyurappa has declined his ‘mantri’ status in a letter written to Bommai due to unknown reasons today.
BS Yediyurappa had quit as a chief minister on July 26 after meeting the party high command in Delhi and has suggested Basavaraj Bommai as the next chief minister of Karnataka.
Basavaraj Bommai changes former officials, allocates portfolio
Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai expanded his cabinet and allocated portfolios to 29 inducted ministers on Friday. CM Bommai has decided to keep key portfolios like Finance, Bengaluru development, and cabinet affairs. He gave prime berths to core BJP leaders.
According to the government notification released, first-time minister BC Nagesh received the primary education portfolio while KS Eshwarappa got Rural and Panchayat Development. Araga Jnanendra, an MLA from Thirthahalli, secured the home minister berth.
Bommai also dropped key officials appointed by his predecessor BS Yediyurappa. The list includes IAS Selva Kumar, secretary of the former chief minister. In a notification released by the government, IAS Ponnuraj replaced him.
The notification further reads the name of 10 other officials who were relieved from the CMO.
Bommai drops Yediyurappa son BY Vijayendra and other loyalists from the cabinet
Meanwhile, Basavaraj Bommai did not give any cabinet portfolios to Yediyurappa’s son, BY Vijayendra. A few of the ex-cm loyalists were also left out. Despite Bommai’s willingness, the party high command had allegedly rejected the long speculated induction of Vijayendra.
Former Congress leader Shimant Patil who jumped ship and joined BJP, did not get any ministerial berths. Yediyurappa included Patil in his cabinet after his win in the assembly by-polls.