Bengaluru, May 2 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah will be visiting the state on Tuesday amid Karnataka BJP legislators exhibiting pressure to restructure Basavaraj Bommai cabinet. During his trip to the city, exactly after a month’s time, Shah is expected to give a big task for party leaders and workers to reach out to beneficiaries, a strategy that has paid huge dividends for the BJP in last assembly elections in five states including Uttar Pradesh, where sitting Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath returned to power by a good margin. He is also expected to meet senior party leaders including Bommai and veteran party leader BS Yediyurappa among others, to discuss next year’s state polls. However, there is no official mention of such a meeting. Bommai is under tremendous pressure from aspirant legislators, who are expressing their ire over the delay in restructuring the cabinet under the leadership of MP Renukacharya, who is the political secretary to the CM. Renukacharya argued that if new faces are inducted into the cabinet, they devotedly work and bring good name to the party and the government. There are five positions vacant in Bommai’s cabinet, which has 29 ministers including the Chief Minister, against the sanctioned strength of 34. Addressing the issue, Bommai had hinted at pushing for the cabinet restructuring during Shah’s visit to Bengaluru tomorrow. Some dissatisfied legislators, especially former union minister Basanagouda Patil Yatnal have been pushing for a Gujarat-like revamp to pave the way for new faces ahead of the assembly elections. Renukacharya is of the view that such an exercise will help the party achieve 150 seats target in the next election. On Sunday, party’s National General Secretary BL Santhosh hinted at induction of new faces to strengthen BJP’s electoral prospects. Speaking to reporters at Shivamogga, Yediyurappa said Shah is likely to discuss the political situation in the state and give suggestions about winning 150 seats in the next election. Shah is expected to land tonight in the city. The next day, he is scheduled to attend the valedictory function of Khelo India University Games and pay tributes to Lingayat saint Basavanna on Basava Jayanthi. Lingayats are core voters of the BJP. Shah is also scheduled to attend the foundation stone laying of various projects including Nrupathunga University, E-inauguration of Forensic Science Laboratory in Ballari and inauguration of Bengaluru NATGRID Campus among others
