Karnataka cabinet expansion soon after hearing from BJP high command: CM Bommai
Bengaluru(PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said he has had a detailed discussion with the BJP's central leadership regarding the expansion of the state cabinet and the exercise will take place as soon as he hears from them.
Bommai was in New Delhi for the last two days to participate in the BJP national executive meeting.
"We had already discussed it last time, they (party leadership) will inform at the earliest. As for the last two days, there was a national executive meeting, we could not discuss it exclusively," he said in response to a question.
Speaking to reporters here, the Chief Minister said it was discussed with the central leadership earlier and will happen accordingly.
Bommai on December 26 met BJP national president J P Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and had discussed with them in detail various issues, including the cabinet expansion.
Noting that he was expecting the cabinet expansion to take place soon, the CM said on January seven, one more meeting will be held soon to decide on the exercise. "The high command will decide who will get into the Council of Ministers."
The CM has been under pressure from Ministerial aspirants over expansion of cabinet not taking place. Assembly elections are due in the state by May.
There were some reports of possible cabinet expansion by filling in six vacant posts or a kind of a rejig by dropping a few and inducting an equal number of new faces.
However, many aspirants feel it is "too late now" for the cabinet exercises, with elections fast approaching.
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Elephant calf brought from Bijnor kept under care at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve
Pilibhit (PTI): A 19-day-old elephant calf, brought from Bijnor, was placed under care at the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) on Sunday, an official said and added that the calf got separated from its mother in the forest area of Bijnor.
The calf was born on December 2 in the Bijnor forest area and got separated from its mother shortly after birth, the official said.
The forest department made several attempts to reunite it with its mother, but without any success. To ensure the calf's safety and better care, it was decided to transfer it to the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve on the instructions of senior officials.
On Saturday, Deputy Director Manish Singh received the calf. Special arrangements have been made in the reserve for its care. It has been kept in a safe and clean environment to provide it with a natural setting and protect it from external noise and disturbances.
Singh told reporters that raising an 19-day-old calf is challenging.
It requires a special diet as a substitute for mother's milk and constant monitoring.
He said a special team has been formed to provide 24-hour care. Since the calf is very young, it is being cared for like a newborn baby.
According to Singh, the primary responsibility for monitoring the calf's health has been entrusted to PTR's veterinarian, Dr Daksh Gangwar. Under his supervision, a complete record of the calf's health checkups, diet, and body temperature is being maintained. The team is ensuring that the calf does not contract any infection.
