Murmurs of Protest in Karnataka BJP Minutes After Yediyurappa’s Cabinet Is Sworn In

Nearly a month after taking power, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa inducted 17 ministers into his cabinet in Bengaluru on Tuesday. The list bore the clear imprint of the BJP high command and left out many of Yediyurappa’s loyalists, prompting signs of discontent within the party.

Dissent in the ranks

At least a dozen hopefuls, some of them prominent, skipped the swearing-in at the Raj Bhavan, and several openly voiced their unhappiness. The first to speak out was GH Thippareddy, a senior MLA from Chitradurga, who said his seniority had been ignored. The six-time MLA and Dalit leader became emotional while speaking to reporters and said like-minded MLAs would soon meet in Bengaluru to press Yediyurappa and the high command to include them, though he said he would not engage in anti-party activity. His supporters burned tyres in Chitradurga in protest.

MLA Goolihatti Shekhar complained that his district had been neglected, and Ramappa Lamani criticised the Chief Minister for leaving him out.

Notable omissions

Several leaders close to Yediyurappa were not made ministers, among them Umesh Katti, Murugesh Nirani, Basangouda Patil Yatnal, Balachandra Jarkhiholi, KG Bopaiah, Aravind Limbavali and SR Vishwanath. The Jarkhiholi family has no minister for the first time in 15 years, even though a revolt led by the family helped bring down the HD Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress government. Lakshman Savadi, also from Belgaum district, was made a minister despite having lost his own assembly seat. Limbavali, who had hoped to become deputy chief minister, may instead be named BJP state president, according to speculation.

Districts in the old Mysore region, including Mysore, Kodagu, Chamarajanagara, Mandya, Hassan, Bengaluru Rural and Chickballapura, received no berth in this round.

Vacancies and the disqualified MLAs

The Karnataka cabinet can have up to 34 members, leaving 16 posts unfilled, and some disappointed legislators hope to get in at the next expansion. However, insiders say Yediyurappa has promised berths to 12 of the 17 disqualified MLAs who helped topple the Kumaraswamy government. As they have challenged their disqualification by Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar in the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister may have to wait for the court’s decision.

See also: Bharatiya Janata Party and state assembly members.

Originally published on 20 August 2019. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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