Bangalore, Aug 31 (IANS) BJP general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan is in Karnataka capital to sort out differences over cabinet portfolios, a day ahead of a meeting of a few ministers and legislators to plan their action against tje delay in reallocating the ministries.
Pradhan, in-charge of Karnataka affairs, held separate meetings with two Deputy Chief Ministers K.S. Eshwarappa and R. Ashoka and former chief minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda to sort out the festering problem.
The BJP national leadership Friday sent Pradhan to Bangalore following announcement Wednesday by Municipal Administration Minister Balachandra Jarkiholi that a few ministers and party legislators would meet here Saturday to chalk out a strategy for early reallocation of portfolios.
Jarkiholi and several ministers in the Jagadish Shettar cabinet have been demanding plum portfolios and posts of heads of corporations and boards to legislators supporting them.
Jarkiholi said it was agreed in July when Shettar took over from Gowda that portfolios will be rejigged and appointment to corporations and boards would be made at the earliest.
All ministers in the Gowda cabinet had retained their portfolios in the Shettar dispensation as the party could not resolve the differences then over re-allocation. Jarkiholi and his group are seeking early decision on these two issues since assembly term expires May next.
Pradhan will Saturday meet more BJP ministers and legislators as also party’s first chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa who was out of Bangalore Friday.