In Karnataka, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has divided the portfolios of his new 13-member Council of Ministers. According to the notification issued by the Governor, Chief Minister Shiv Kumar has kept the Finance, Personnel and Administrative Reforms departments with himself. Apart from this, the departments which have not been allocated yet will also remain with the Chief Minister. Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Parameshwara has been given the responsibility of Youth Empowerment and Sports Department along with Revenue Department. Whereas Priyank Kharge has been assigned the Home Department. Along with this, he has also retained the departments of Information Technology (IT) and Biotechnology.
Many senior ministers got their old portfolios
In the new government of the state, KJ George has been given the additional responsibility of Tourism Department along with Energy Department. MB Patil holds the Department of Large and Medium Industries. Satish Jarkiholi will continue to hold the Public Works Department, while KH Muniyappa has been given the responsibility of the Food and Civil Supplies Department and Sharan Prakash Patil has been given the responsibility of the Medical Education Department. Krishna Byre Gowda has been assigned the Bengaluru Urban Development Department under the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). Senior Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy has got the responsibility of major and medium irrigation department. Bairathi Suresh has been given the transport department, while UT Khadar has been given the health department.
Siddaramaiah’s son Yatindra got this department?
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son and Legislative Council member Yatindra Siddaramaiah has been given the responsibility of the Urban Development Department. His departments include Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation and several urban development authorities. Ishwar Khandre has got the responsibility of Rural Development Department.
Dissatisfaction regarding division of departments in the party
However, some dissatisfaction has also emerged within the Congress regarding the distribution of departments. According to party sources, some ministers were not satisfied with the portfolios allotted to them, due to which there was a delay in the allocation of departments. Especially Ramalinga Reddy, MLA from BTM Layout of Bangalore, wanted the Bangalore Development Department. It is being told that Chief Minister Shivkumar wanted to give this department to Krishna Byre Gowda. Reddy also expressed his displeasure regarding this issue.
Division of departments took place on the instructions of the high command
Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the division of departments has been done as per the instructions of the Congress leadership and all the processes have been completed. He also informed that Rahul Gandhi will come to Bangalore during the filing of Rajya Sabha nomination of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Apart from this, four Congress candidates will file nomination for the Legislative Council elections on Friday, while discussion is going on within the party on the name of the fifth candidate. Party sources say that the second phase of cabinet expansion may also take place around June 10, although the Congress leadership has not yet officially confirmed it.
