Karnataka bypolls: All BJP winners to be made ministers, says Yediyurappa

BJP wins 12 out of 15 seats that went to polls

Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa offer sweets to B.Y. Vijayendra after BJP won in 12 out of 15 assembly constituencies in the bypolls | PTI Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa offer sweets to B.Y. Vijayendra after BJP won in 12 out of 15 assembly constituencies in the bypolls | PTI

Soon after his Bharatiya Janata Party swept the byelections in Karnataka, winning 12 out of 15 seats, Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa said that all the winning candidates from his party would be inducted to the cabinet.

"As I have assured them, all the 12 BJP candidates who won from their Assembly segments will be given cabinet posts soon," Yediyurappa told media persons in Bengaluru.

BJP had fielded 13 disqualified (Congress-JD(S)) MLAs who joined the party on November 14.

In his first cabinet expansion in August, the chief minister had inducted 16 ministers while keeping 17 posts vacant. 

Yediyurappa, who returned to power on July 26 for the third time in over a decade, said the BJP would focus on development of the state with a stable government.

"I will give a good administration in the next three-and- half years with the help of our ministers and MLAs," an upbeat chief minister said. He also sought the support of the opposition to complete his term unhindered.

The by-polls were considered a litmus test for the BJP government as it needed to win at least six of the 15 seats at stake to remain in majority in the 225-member assembly. Congress won two seats while its ally JD(S) drew a blank.