Bangalore, Aug 7 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remained stuck on the formation of its new Karnataka ministry with rival factions mired in differences over the number and posts each will get, party sources said late Sunday.


BJP general secretary and in-charge of party affairs in the state Dharmendra Pradhan arrived here late Sunday and held talks with groups led by new Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda and former rural development minister Jagadish Shettar.

State BJP chief K.S. Eshwarappa, who had backed Shettar to succeed scam-hit B.S. Yeddyurappa, also met Pradhan.

"More talks will be held to settle the number of ministers from each group and the portfolios for them," a party leader privy to the discussions told IANS Sunday night.

Eshwarappa told reporters before the meeting that he was hopeful of all issues being sorted out by late Sunday.

However, he did not talk to the media after the meeting. Others who took part in the discussions, including Gowda and Pradhan, also declined to talk to the media.

Gowda defeated Shettar in the elections held Aug 3 and took oath of office the following day at a ceremony boycotted by his rival Shettar and most of his supporters.

The two groups started the discussion on ministry formation Saturday. "The talks started after the party central leaders told the two groups the issue should be settled at the state level," the leader, requesting anonymity, said.

After Saturday's talks indications were that the two groups had agreed to equally share the ministerial berths, 17 each. The state can have a 34-member ministry, including the chief minister, under the constitutional provisions.

"Talks with Pradhan focused on the number of ministers to be sworn-in at present, their portfolios and whether there should be deputy chief minister," the leader said.