Cabinet expansion on Wednesday afternoon: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said the expansion of his cabinet will take place this afternoon.
"I have had detailed discussions with high command regarding the cabinet, yesterday and the day before.
Most probably by 11 am you will get an official list (of new Ministers) from the Raj Bhavan, you in the media are running some names, but you will get an official list mostly by 11-11:30 am," Bommai said on his arrival from Delhi.
Speaking to reporters at the airport here, he said the new cabinet Ministers will be sworn-in at 2:15 pm.
Bommai, who was elected as the new leader of the BJP legislature party last week, following Yediyurappa's resignation, had taken oath as the Chief Minister on July 28.
After taking oath as the Chief Minister Bommai visited Delhi twice.
Hectic parleys were on between Bommai and central leaders in Delhi during the last couple of days, to finalise the cabinet expansion.
Meanwhile, ministerial aspirants also had continued lobbying to secure a berth in the new cabinet.
Expanding the Ministry is seen as the first big challenge before the new Chief Minister, as he will have to navigate through the cabinet formation exercise by maintaining balance between factions within the ruling BJP.
There are several aspirants among the party "old guards" and "youngsters", also there are legislators who had joined BJP after quitting Congress-JD(S) coalition in 2019.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
West Bengal: EC orders suspension of joint BDO ahead of polls
Kolkata (PTI): The Election Commission on Friday ordered the immediate suspension of a joint block development officer (BDO) in poll-bound West Bengal and directed the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against her.
The poll body, however, did not mention the grounds for the action.
In a letter to the chief secretary of West Bengal, the poll panel said the action against Jyotsna Khatun, the joint BDO of Purba Bardhaman district's Khandaghosh, is based on a recommendation from the chief electoral officer of the state.
"The commission has agreed to the proposal and directs that Jyotsna Khatun be suspended and disciplinary action be initiated against her immediately," the EC stated in its letter to the West Bengal chief secretary.
Khatun had been notified as the Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) for the 259-Khandaghosh Assembly Constituency.
The poll panel has asked authorities to implement the order "with immediate effect" and submit a compliance report by 11 am of Saturday.
The letter also instructed the authorities to urgently propose a replacement for the vacant post.
