PTI
 
Bangalore, Feb 18: A day after rumblings surfaced in the BJP over denial of ministerial berths, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday admitted that the expansion exercise had caused "discontent" among aspirants, but dismissed reports about dissidence brewing up.

"It is a fact that the BJP could not give representation to some of the districts where our partymen have been elected in good strength. It is quite natural for those who could not get into the ministry to sulk. This development would certainly create anxiety and confusion among partymen," Yediyurappa told reporters.

Seeking to mollify ruffled feelings of legislators who could not be inducted into the ministry in the first phase of expansion that took place on Friday and saw 11 BJP men taking oath, he said efforts would be made to give representation to unrepresented districts and sections in the next round of expansion likely to be held by this month end.

"We have limitations. BJP can only accommodate 18 ministers. There are boards and corporations having the status of cabinet rank minister. We will appoint partymen to them," Yediyurappa said.

The JD(S) has also kept six vacancies under its quota probably to induct its senior leaders who have been kept out of the ministry for some other reasons, he said.

Yediyurappa spiked reports that the former BJP leader Uma Bharti has been contacting disgruntled legislators, describing it as a "media creation".

Yediyurappa, who has succeeded in ensuring place in the ministry for his supporters, causing heartburn in the camp of BJP General Secretary Anantkumar, asserted that "there are no factions in BJP. There is only one faction and that is BJP".

He denied reports that the ministry list finalised by the party high command in Delhi was tampered with.

Yediyurappa said JD(S) and BJP would soon give final touches to the Common Minimum Programme document and set up the coordination committee.

Dissatisfaction has been brewing in BJP since yesterday as several senior leaders including those MLAs, who have been elected for more than two terms, have been denied the ministerial slots.

Prominent among them include, A Narayanaswamy of Anekal, H S Shankaralinge Gowda (Mysore) and Mukamantri Chandru and Ashok Limbavali (Both MLCs).

The disgruntled group met on Friday and reportedly decided to complain to the party high command on alleged injustice done to them.