Vijayapura: With the activities again started with the BJP after the talks of possible expansion of the cabinet, the legislators of Vijayapura and Bagalkot have reportedly begun lobbying to get a berth in the State cabinet.

Those are believed to be contenders from the Bijapur district are; City MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, Muddebihal MLA A S Patil Nadahalli, who is chairman of Karnataka State and Food and Civil Supplies Corporation.

From neighbouring Bagalkot, Terdal MLA Siddu Savadi, who is also chairman of the Karnataka Handloom Development Board, and Hungund MLA Doddanagouda Patil are the aspirants for the cabinet post. These leaders are reportedly knocking on the doors of the party high command to get into the state cabinet.

Minister for Water Resources Govind Karjol and Minister of Large and Medium Scale Industries Murugesh Nirani from Bagalkot district are already in the cabinet.

Admitting that he is also one of the aspirants for the cabinet post, Savadi, pointed out that, with the assembly election nearing the central leaders should reshuffle the cabinet similar to that of the Gujarat government. The party high command should consider new faces by dropping the senior minister.

“Even the senior ministers, who have been in the cabinet at least over two terms, should give away their posts to either new faces or youngsters. I am an aspirant for the cabinet post. I will not lobby for the cabinet post but the party high command should consider new faces, who are working for the strengthening of the party, in the upcoming cabinet expansion,” said Savadi.

Hungund MLA Doddanagouda Patil had openly expressed unhappiness over the party's high command for not considering senior MLAs for the state cabinet. He is also one of the aspirants for the cabinet berth. The reports claimed that he had held talks with the central leaders for his inclusion in the cabinet.

Meanwhile, in Vijayapura, MLA Yatnal and Nadahalli are lobbying for the cabinet post. Since the BJP government has come to power in the state none of the elected members from the district has been blessed with a cabinet post.

“The decision of whom to consider and whom to drop from the cabinet is left to the party high command. If the party high command blesses me, I will work for the welfare of the people and party,” stated MLA Yatnal while speaking to the reporters.

When questioned about the purpose of his recent visit to New Delhi, Yatnal said, “I had been to Delhi on personal work and the executive committee meeting of the party. I had not been to the national capital to lobby for the cabinet post. It is all baseless rumors,” clarified former union minister Yatnal.

Even MLA A S Patil Nadahalli is making all the efforts to get into the cabinet. He said, “I am hoping that the party high command will bless the cabinet post to one of the elected members from Vijayapura. I am also an aspirant for the post. Irrespective of the party’s decision, I will sincerely work for the development of the party in the region,” reiterated Nadahalli.