No deputy CMs, caste balancing in new karnataka cabinet

“This time the high command has said that there’ll be no deputy chief Minister,” announced Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday while adding that 29 lawmakers will take oath as ministers on Wednesday. Maintaining a delicate caste balance, the Chief Minister has picked seven Vokkaligas and eight Linagayats for his cabinet.

“I’ve sent names to the Governor. 29 MLAs will take oath today. This time the high command has said that there’ll be no deputy CM. So, there will be no deputy CM. Seven OBCs, 3 SCs, 1 ST, 7 Vokkaligas, 8 Linagayats, 1 Reddy and 1 woman are part of the cabinet,” said Bommai, reports ANI. The previous cabinet had three deputy CMs.

Bommai, 61, took over as Karnataka Chief Minister on July 28, succeeding BS Yediyurappa who resigned after months of speculation over his exit. It was widely reported that Yediyurappa had sought a deputy CM post for his son BY Vijayendra, who is currently the state BJP chief, But Bommai’s announcement quashes all that speculation.

Earlier today, Bommai also said that there was no confusion about who will be inducted as ministers in his government, saying, “no confusions, consultation is the process, we are a national party, that’s all”.

Asked if senior leaders and those who have joined the BJP from other political parties will be kept out of the cabinet, the chief minister said, “Nothing of that sort. Experience and youthful spirit will be considered. Overall, it will be a pro-people government.”

The CM met BJP chief JP Nadda on Tuesday for the second time in two days and the two leaders to give finishing touches to the keenly-awaited expansion.

According to sources, as reported by PTI, Bommai met Nadda in Parliament for about half an hour and finalised the list of new ministers to be inducted in the cabinet.