Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah will deal with finance whereas his deputy DK Shivakumar acquired irrigation and Bengaluru metropolis growth as portfolios have been assigned to ministers after the cupboard’s enlargement to its full complement of 34 two days in the past, the state authorities introduced on Monday.
The announcement got here after intense lobbying over the weekend, with legislators vying for plum portfolios. On Saturday night the Congress put collectively a listing for portfolio allocation, however the social gathering needed to defer a proper announcement to paper over the brewing dissent. Ultimately, nevertheless, the listing that emerged on Monday was virtually equivalent to the one disseminated two days earlier.
“There was lobbying, however as AICC basic secretary in cost Randeep Surjewala mentioned on Friday, the ultimate name is that of the chief minister. The truth that no modifications have been made means Siddaramaiah had his means,” a senior Congress chief mentioned, on the situation of anonymity.
Other than finance, Siddaramaiah has saved cupboard affairs, the departments of personnel and administrative reforms, intelligence, info, IT, infrastructure growth, and different unallocated portfolios. Shivakumar acquired cost of the event of Bengaluru, a vital ministry with the town incessantly blighted by points corresponding to poor roads, failing city infrastructure, and the lack to take care of the after-effects of rain. He will even have the influential civic physique Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and different civic companies in Bengaluru metropolis.
Senior minister G Parameshwara, who had thrown his hat within the ring for the chief minister’s submit when Siddaramaaiah and Shivakumar have been jockeying for the highest submit in Delhi, has been given the house division, a portfolio he has dealt with earlier than.
“Parameshwara, who was within the working for the deputy chief minister’s submit too, however misplaced out as a result of the social gathering selected to make Shivakumar the only deputy, was additionally eyeing the income portfolio. Siddaramaiah was capable of pacify him,” a senior official mentioned. The brand new income minister can be Krishna Byregowda, a Vokkaliga chief.
Senior chief MB Patil, considered one of eight ministers to take oath with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar on Might 16, was assigned the massive and medium industries ministry, whereas KJ George can be answerable for the vitality ministry. HK Patil, one other senior Lingayat chief, has been allotted legislation and parliamentary affairs, laws and tourism, whereas KH Muniyappa is the brand new meals and civil provides and shopper affairs minister.
“Muniyappa lobbied for the social welfare portfolio however that has gone to HC Mahadevappa,” a senior Congress chief mentioned.
Former state Congress president Dinesh Gundurao would be the new well being minister whereas shut Siddaramaiah affiliate Zameer Ahmed Khan, one of many two Muslim faces within the 34-member cupboard, has been given housing, Wakf and minority welfare.
Eight-time MLA Ramalinga Reddy has been given transport together with the Muzrai division. He had served as residence minister within the Siddaramaiah authorities and was upset over the transport portfolio within the draft listing, conveying to the chief minister that he most popular to stay an MLA as a substitute. On Sunday, nevertheless, Shivakumar and Bengaluru rural MP DK Suresh held a two-hour assembly at his residence in Bengaluru, and gave him the Muzrai division together with transport.
“No matter portfolio is given, we should work. Ministry, portfolio, nothing is everlasting. Ministers in addition to portfolios preserve altering. I had labored as transport minister up to now and acquired a number of awards for the division,” Reddy mentioned reacting to the allocation.
The one girl minister in Siddaramaiah’s cupboard Lakshmi Hebbalkar was given the ladies and youngster growth portfolio. AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge acquired the agricultural growth and panchayati raj portfolio. Kharge was mentioned to have been eyeing the IT and BT portfolio, which the chief minister in the end saved with himself.