Yeddyurappa expands Karnataka cabinet
10 Jul 2008, 1843 Hrs

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Bangalore, July 10 (ANI): In a clever political move, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa expanded his cabinet to full capacity by including three more prominent politicians on Thursday.

In a glittering ceremony held on the lawns of Raj bhavan, State Governor Rameshwar Thakur administered oath of office to Balachandra Jarkiholi, Anand Asnotikar and Shivanagouda Naik. Naik was poached from the Congress and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S).

Talking to media after the swearing in ceremony, Jarkiholi said pressure from the people forced him to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

B Sriramulu, who was reportedly involved in the legislator poaching operation, felt that this would consolidate the BJP and Chief Minister Yeddyurappa's hands.

With Thursday's Cabinet expansion, all 34 cabinet berths, the maximum allowed as per Constitutional norm.

According to sources in the BJP, the three cabinet persons were poached with the help of the Reddy brothers, who control mining operations in Bellary. By Kestur Vasuki (ANI)