Lobbying on in Karnataka as Ministerial aspirants raise pitch for Cabinet berth
Bengaluru, Jul 28: As Basavaraj Bommai took charge as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on Wednesday, Ministerial aspirants have begun lobbying to secure a berth in the new cabinet.
Expanding the Ministry will be 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 in the state.
There are several aspirants among the party old guard, and legislators who had joined the BJP after quitting the Congress-JD(S) coalition in 2019.
Bommai, who alone took oath on Wednesday, succeeding B S Yediyurappa, said he will try to expand the Cabinet soon.
"I had met central observers Dharmendra Pradhan, Kishan Reddy and general secretary (Arun) Singh (in the morning), they said let's not discuss it today, once they go back to Delhi let's see," he said in response to a question by reporters on expanding the cabinet.
Asked whether he will wait for 'Ashada' month (considered inauspicious) to get over for undertaking the expansion, he said, "nothing like that, we will do it at the earliest, won't take too much time because I need a complete team to do the work as there is COVID and floods."
When questioned whether he will continue with the same Ministers, Bommai said all these are part of the cabinet formation exercise and "everything will be decided together".
The Chief Minister said he was waiting for the Prime Minister's appointment for Delhi visit.
He also clarified that his first visit to Delhi is for meeting PM Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP national president J P Nadda to thank them, and thereafter he will discuss with leaders on the cabinet expansion.
Meanwhile, state BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel said the Chief Minister after discussing with the central leaders will choose members to his cabinet.
Asked about "confusion" among legislators, who had joined BJP after quitting Congress-JD(S) coalition in 2019, and were Ministers in the previous Yediyurappa cabinet, about their future, he said, "..they are party workers and who should be in the council of ministers is left to the Chief Minister's discretion."
About several long-time party loyals too having expectations to become Ministers, Kateel said the cabinet will be expanded keeping in mind social and geographical balance, and also party interest.
BJP national general secretary C T Ravi said there should be no "insider-outsider difference" in the BJP, and the only criteria is good work.
Some legislators, who are said to be Ministerial aspirants, had reportedly met Yediyurappa on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, who was Minister in the Yediyurappa cabinet, said he has decided not to be part of the new cabinet, considering that he is senior to CM Bommai.
"As I am a former Chief Minister and have seniority, I have decided not to be a part of the new cabinet.I was Minister in the Yediyurappa cabinet despite being a former CM as he (Yediyurappa) is senior to me and I had worked in his government in the past too, but now keeping seniority and morality in view I am not ready to be part of the new cabinet," he told new channels.
Shettar said he has communicated his decision to state party president, Chief Minister, and Yediyurappa and party leadership. There are youngsters in the party and as a senior leader he will continue to support the government in all possible ways, and work for the party, Shettar added.
Another senior leader and former Minister K S Eshwarappa said some seers had visited him, and wanted him to become Deputy Chief Minister.
"I told them that the party will decide and sought their blessing."
Former Minister and senior leader R Ashoka said he had held several positions in the past and will abide by the party decision.
There are reports that he may become Deputy Chief Minister.
While MLCs R Shankar and MTB Nagaraj, who are among those who had defected to BJP, expressed aspiration to become Ministers once again, reminding the leaders about their contribution to BJP in the saffron party coming to power, Yediyurappa loyalist and MLA M P Renukacharya said, if given an opportunity, he will work as Minister.
Stating that he is "120 per cent" confident about becoming Minister, senior MLA Umesh Katti, in response to a question on talks that priority will be given to "fresh faces", said "I'm also a fresh face."
Yediyurappa's bete noire Basangouda Patil Yatnal, who has openly said that he doesn't want to become Minister under the Lingayat strongman, said if the central high command directs him, he will agree to become Minister in the new Cabinet.
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.
Delhi polluted owing to Aravalli, says anchor Rajat Sharma; netizens troll him
Noida: India TV editor-in-chief Rajat Sharma has drawn sharp criticism on social media following remarks he made on air attributing Delhi’s air pollution partly to its geographical location and the Aravalli hill range.
Speaking during a recent episode of his prime-time show Aaj Ki Baat, Sharma said Delhi’s geography plays a major role in trapping polluted air.
“Geographical location is the main reason. Delhi is a big city and its shape is like a bowl, surrounded by the Aravalli hills on three sides. As a result, polluted air gets trapped and cannot disperse easily. Therefore, the problem of pollution in Delhi cannot be solved in one year or in any particular season,” he said.
His comments came amid a severe deterioration in air quality in the national capital. On Sunday morning, December 21, Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of toxic smog, sharply reducing visibility and causing widespread discomfort. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 390 around 7 a.m., placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Dense fog and smog also disrupted flight operations at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). As many as 110 flights were cancelled, while over 370 flights were delayed due to poor visibility. Of the cancelled services, 59 were arriving flights and 51 were departures. Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 showed that departing flights faced an average delay of around 26 minutes.
Netizens troll Sharma
One user wrote on X, “Rajat Sharma is saying due to the Aravalli hills, there is air pollution in Delhi. He is defending mining and destroying the Aravalli hills like this. How can these people call themselves journalists?”
Another user accused him of political hypocrisy, comparing his earlier criticism of the Delhi government with his current remarks, and wrote, “In 2023 he blamed Arvind Kejriwal for Delhi air pollution. In 2025, he is blaming the Aravalli hills because BJP is in power. Hypocrisy = 100%, Journalism = 00%.”
Others termed the comments an example of the “godi media” narrative, alleging that geography was being blamed instead of governance, industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, construction dust, and stubble burning. “When they fail to question power or policy, they conveniently shift the blame to nature,” another post read.
“Friends, what can one even say about today’s godi media? According to them, the reason for Delhi’s pollution is that the Aravalli hills surround the city from three sides, trapping polluted air inside. Seriously? So now Sudhir Chaudhary and Rajat Sharma want us to believe that nature itself is to blame? When they fail to question power or policy, they conveniently shift the blame to geography. Apparently, it’s not years of environmental destruction or administrative failure—it’s the Aravalli hills! Does this explanation make any sense at all?,” wrote another.
What is the Aravali issue?
The controversy arises over the Union government’s revised definition of what constitutes the Aravalli hills.
The decision has drawn protests involving environmental activists across Haryana, Rajasthan, and parts of the Delhi-NCR region, who have raised concerns that the new definition could weaken protection for one of the world’s oldest mountain ranges.
Under the revised definition, an “Aravalli hill” is described as any landform in designated Aravalli districts with an elevation of 100 metres or more above local relief, while an “Aravalli range” is defined as a cluster of two or more such hills within 500 metres of each other. Activists fear this could open the door for mining, construction, and commercial activities in previously protected areas.
Environmentalists argue that the Aravalli range serves as a natural barrier against desertification, dust storms, and pollution, and plays a vital role in maintaining ecological balance in the Delhi-NCR region.
They have demanded that the entire Aravalli range be declared a fully protected area with strict conservation measures.
Meanwhile, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has stated that the new definition, accepted by the Supreme Court based on a Centre-led panel’s recommendations, would not result in any relaxation of mining norms in the Aravalli region.
Rajat Sharma is saying due to Aravalli hills there is Air pollution in Delhi. He is defending mining & destroying Aravalli hills like this
— Veena Jain (@Vtxt21) December 21, 2025
How can these people call themselves Journalists even after doing such things 🤮
pic.twitter.com/osgDAYl6Nb
🚨 2023 : Rajat Sharma was blaming Arvind Kejriwal for delhi air pollution
— Amock_ (@Amockx2022) December 21, 2025
🚨 2025 : He is blaming Aravalli Hills for delhi air pollution because BJP is in govt
Hypocrisy = 100%, Journalism = 00% 🤣 pic.twitter.com/EHCrAmAfGY
Friends, what can one even say about today’s godi media? According to them, the reason for Delhi’s pollution is that the Aravalli hills surround the city from three sides, trapping polluted air inside. Seriously? So now Sudhir Chaudhary and Rajat Sharma want us to believe that…
— The indian guy (@Ab60307) December 20, 2025
