Clarity and a united and consensus approach that could hasten the pace of the formation of the Council of Ministers of the second Bharatiya Janata Party government in Karnataka are yet to emerge, given the groupism that has come into play in the BJP Legislature Party.
Discussions over the formation of the Sadananda Gowda Ministry on Sunday entered the third day and remained inconclusive with the two factions persisting with their demand over the number of legislators to be accommodated in the Council of Ministers.
Party general secretary in charge of Karnataka, Dharmendra Pradhan, arrived here late on Sunday to participate in the discussions that could help in finalising the list of legislators to be sworn in as Ministers.
Party sources told The Hindu that given the differences between the two factions, it is highly unlikely that the swearing-in ceremony will take place on Monday and at best may take place only on Wednesday.
Solution in sight?
However, the political compulsions and the desire of the BJP leaders and legislators to stay in power are expected to help in bringing about a solution. The 13th Assembly is left with another 22 months, and the BJP commands a majority in the House.
In all likelihood at least 20 of the 27 members in the B.S. Yeddyurappa Ministry are expected to find a place in the new government. The ruling party has 120 legislators with the Jagadish Shettar faction stated to be enjoying the support of 51 legislators and the Sadananda Gowda group 65 legislators as was evident in the secret ballot when Mr. Sadananda Gowda emerged victorious and was sworn in Chief Minister.
The new Ministry is expected to have at least 10 new faces, particularly some senior legislators who have won in successive elections and could not make it to the Ministry. The Shettar faction has demanded two posts of Deputy Chief Minister and reports have it that the BJP high command is not in favour of such posts when there is a single party rule and that the power and responsibility of the Chief Minister should not be undermined.
Senior government officials, including the police, are gearing up to ensure proper arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony, which is expected to draw a large number of people. If adequate notice is given, plans are afoot to organise the programme at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium or else it would be at the Glass House in the Raj Bhavan, as the frontal area of the Vidhana Soudha is out of bounds for major programmes following the work on Bangalore Metro. Holding the swearing-in ceremony (for Council of Ministers in particular) was shifted to the eastern side of the Vidhana Soudha from the Raj Bhavan about 25 years ago when the first of the Janata Party governments, under Ramakrishna Hegde, took charge.
