Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said that he would expand his ministry in the next two days.
He, however, refused to divulge the names of those who would join his ministry.
Mr. Yeddyurappa who has been mulling over cabinet expansion to fill-up three vacancies was speaking to the press here prior to his departure to Bangalore.
Since the BJP Government came into being in May 2008, four ministers - Shobha, Somanna, H Halappa and Ramachandra Gowda - had quit. One vacancy was filled with the induction of Renuka Acharya, who is the Excise minister.
Party sources said Mr. Yeddyurappa was keen on re-inducting Shobha Karandlaje and Somanna, considered to be his confidants.
However, a section of the partymen have been opposing their return to the cabinet, particularly that of Mr. Somanna, who crossed over to BJP from the Congress.
Meanwhile, a team of BJP MLAs have communicated to the party leadership that they would oppose giving ministerial berth to Mr. Somanna.
Of the 25 MLAs who are on the US visit, at least ten of them plan to return to the city shortly to register their protest against the possible induction of Mr. Somanna, one of the MLAs told PTI over phone.
Mr. Yeddyurappa paid his last respects to Puttaraj Gavai, a doyen of Hindustani and Carnatic music who passed away yesterday following illness. He announced a grant of Rs. five crore for constructing a memorial in the name of the renowned singer.
