Yeddyurappa rules out cabinet expansion

Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa said on Wednesday that any expansion of his ministry "was not on the cards for now" in the wake of speculation that he was trying to reinduct Shobha Karandlaje who was dropped from the Cabinet last year apparently to quell dissidence by the Reddy brothers.

Yeddyurappa was talking to reporters after meeting a delegation of transgenders led by Karandlaje, who has been fighting for the cause of sexual minorities. Yeddyurappa, whose efforts to fill two vacant ministerial berths, have been rejected by BJP high command, evaded a reply on the issue saying "ministry expansion is not on cards for now".

The chief minister has been reportedly trying to reinduct Karandlaje whom he had to sacrifice last year to quell dissidence by Reddy brothers -- ministers Janardhana and Karunakara.

Two days ago he made a vain bid to convince his party high command, including BJP President Nitin Gadkari to permit him to go in for ministry expansion. Meanwhile, he promised the delegation of transgenders that he would consider their demands including Rs 400 pension and medical facilities. Yeddyurappa also said that he would direct the Social Welfare department to consider their demands.

The delegation wanted the government to include their names in voters list, provide houses to them, grant loans for self-employment ventures, besides granting pension and medical facilities.

He said the state was facing power shortage due to the monsoon playing traunt and low water level in hydel reservoirs. Efforts were on to tide over the energy crisis, he said, adding there was no proposal to shift the Health University from Ramanagara to Bangalore.

He appealed to JD-S leaders to call off their August 19 bandh to protest against shifting of the university.