Senior BJP MLA Yatnal hints at 'historical changes' in Karnataka after Sankranti

Amid talks that Karnataka cabinet expansion or reshuffle is likely next month, senior BJP MLA Basanagouda Patil Yatnal, who h earlier claimed that BS Yediyurappa will t remain Chief Minister for long, on Friday hinted at 'historical changes' in state after Sankranti.

former Union Minister indicated that 'Uttarayana', period after Sankranti, may prove good for rrn part of state.

"...wher it will be cabinet expansion or reshuffle or something else...for all se things- re is possibility of historical changes after Makara Sankramana (Sankranti)," Vijayapura MLA told reporters in that city.

Reiterating that he was t aspiring for any Ministerial post, he said high command would take a good decision and do justice to Vijayapura district, "as injustice has happened for so long." Yatnal h in October claimed that Yediyurappa will t remain CM for long and high command has decided that his successor will be from rth Karnataka region.

He h even accused Chief Minister of taking all development work to his home district of Shivamogga, while taking back funds allocated to MLAs of or constituencies.

Reacting to Yatnal's comments, Union Minister Sananda Gowda said former was just an MLA and does t hold any official party position to speak on such matters.

"When right people speak on issues at right forum, it will be meaningful and will earn respect.

Who is Basangouda Patil Yatnal? He is neir national leer of our party r its Karnataka unit president.

He is t even in a position to speak on such matters. He is just an ordinary MLA," Gowda said.

Union Minister said it was t right on part of Yatnal to issue statements to media daily and ded that if he wished to raise issues, he could speak to national president, state president or CM.

"Making such statements publicly will t do good for his political future," he said.

re have been speculations in some quarters in recent times that BJP high command was mulling over a change in leership, considering Yediyurappa's .

However, state BJP h recently strongly refuted reports about replacing 77-year-old Lingayat strongman.

Talks about cabinet reshuffle or expansion have resurfaced in BJP circles amid reports that senior party leer and Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to visit state on January 15 or 16.

Yediyurappa has been waiting for some time w to carry out cabinet exercise, as he was asked by BJP national president J P Nda at ir vember 18 meeting in New Delhi to wait for clearance from central leership.

cabinet expansion or reshuffle is expected to be a tightrope walk for Chief Minister, considering that re are too many aspirants, from party old guard to Congress- JD(S) rebels who are w BJP legislators.

cabinet currently has 27 members, and seven berths are still vacant.