Cabinet berths for turncoats if elected: KS Eshwarappa

Bengaluru: Minister K.S. Eshwarappa assured the disqualified legislators, who contested Thursday's bypoll, that they would get cabinet berths in the Yediyurappa government if they were elected.    

Speaking to reporters here, the senior BJP leader  said if all 15 former Congress and JD(S) won the byelections, they would get a berth in the state cabinet.

“If Mahesh Kumtalli wins from Athani, he will become minister. But deputy Chief Minister, Laxman Savadi too will continue in the Cabinet, as there could be two or three ministers from the same district if the disqualified MLAs win the polls,” he added

Although all the current BJP MLAs wanted to become ministers, the party would not let down the disqualified MLAs, as it had already promised to induct them into the cabinet, he said.

“It is obvious many MLAs want to become ministers. But this government came into existence due to  the resignation of  the 17  Congress and JD(S) MLAs. So the party will make them ministers once the results are out,” he promised, recalling that the Bharatiya Janata Party had told the disqualified MLAs that if they did not contest the bypolls, they would be nominated to the upper House as MLCs.

Asked if he wanted to become deputy Chief Minister, Mr. Eshwarappa replied that like any other politician he too wanted to grow in the party.