DHNS
Bangalore, Aug 26: Umesh Katti, who recently party-hopped to the BJP, will be inducted into the Yeddyurappa's Cabinet on Wednesday.
Governor Rameshwar Thakur will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Umesh Katti on Wednesday at a function to be held at Raj Bhavan at 4 pm, Chief Minister Yeddyurappa told reporters in Bangalore on Monday.
The chief minister said he had accepted the resignation of Horticulture Minister S K Bellubbi, which was forwarded to him on Sunday. Bellubbi’s place will be taken by Katti, who recently quit the JD(S) and his membership to the Legislative Assembly to join the saffron fold.
Yeddyurappa ruled out more ministers being dropped to induct new party hoppers into the Cabinet. Bellubbi would be given the chairmanship of a prominent board or corporation soon, he added.
On the entry of more legislators from the opposition camp to the BJP, Yeddyurappa said his party was not after anyone. “If they are willing to come on their own, our party is willing to accommodate them,” he said.
To a query on whether the state would invite Tata motors to set up its Nano plant in Karnataka, Yeddyurappa said, “We welcome all industrialists to invest in Karnataka. One of the reasons for my forthcoming trip to the United States is to invite industrialists to invest in the state,” he said.
National executive
Yeddurappa said it has been decided to hold the party’s three-day national executive scheduled to be held in Bangalore from September 12 at Woodlands Hotel. A preparatory meeting in this regard was held in Bangalore on Monday.