Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will be visiting New Delhi on Monday to discuss cabinet expansion. This was revealed by former minister KS Eshwarappa after meeting the CM in the city here on Wednesday night along with another former minister Ramesh Jarkiholi.
Both leaders had abstained from attending the winter session of the state legislature assembly here in a show of silent protest for the delay in re-inducting them into Bommai’s ministry. They had resigned over the issues of corruption and sex scandal.
“After my presser, CM invited me and asked to bring Ramesh Jarkiholi along. We have discussed it in detail and CM has responded positively. He has told me that he would be visiting Delhi on Monday and soon we would be inducted into the cabinet,” Eshwarappa told reporters here.
Earlier, Eshwarappa had vented his ire over the delay in re-inducting him into the cabinet. He had resigned as RDPR minister after contractor Santosh Patil accused Eshwarappa of corruption. Patil was found dead in a lodge in Udupi city in April.
The deceased also had written a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Eshwarappa had not cleared outstanding bills due to him. He also urged Modi to direct Eshwarappa to settle his bills.
As of now, Eshwarappa has been given a clean chit after the Udupi Town Police filed a B-report in the case at the People’s Representatives Court in Bengaluru after they did not find any evidence against him to file a chargesheet and seek his trial.
Yesterday both Eshwarappa and Jarkiholi held a meeting with Bommai which lasted about 30 minutes. Emerging out of the meeting, the former minister said: “Myself and Jarkiholi will be in the cabinet.”
The CM also is contemplating to induct 2-3 more MLAs into his cabinet, Eshawrappa said.
After assurance from Bommai, both Eshwarappa and Jarkiholi have decided to attend the winter session of the state assembly. Jarkiholi is another sulking leader who had resigned over a sex scandal.
There are several aspirants eyeing for a cabinet berth including political secretary to the CM MP Renukacharya, and Basanagouda Patil Yatnal. As of now, there are six vacancies in the Bommai cabinet.
