JD(S) Ministers: H.D. Revanna, G.T. Devegowda, Bandeppa Kashampur, C.S. Puttaraju, D.C. Thammanna, Venkatrao Nadagowda, S.R. Srinivas, M.C. Managuli and Sa.Ra. Mahesh. N. Mahesh of the BSP, the alliance partner of JD(S) was also inducted into the Ministry.
Congress Ministers: D.K. Shivakumar, R.V. Deshpande, K.J. George, Krishna Bhyregowda, Rajashekar Basavaraj Patil, Shivananda Patil, Priyank Kharge, U.T. Khader, Zameer Ahmed Khan, C. Puttaranga Shetty, N.H. Shivashankar Reddy, Ramesh Jarakiholi, Venkataramanappa, Jayamala and R. Shankar (Independent).
[Note: This was the list available when SOM went to Press. Final list of Ministers will be published tomorrow]
Bengaluru: After several days of consultation, the two-member Karnataka Cabinet headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy was expanded this afternoon. The first batch of 25 Ministers for the two-week-old Congress-JD(S) government was sworn-in by Governor Vajubhai R. Vala at the sprawling Glass House in Raj Bhavan.
The swearing-in of the new Ministers began at 2.12 pm as we went to the Press. The much-awaited Cabinet expansion comes after dramatic bouts of bargaining and compromise between the alliance partners.
Among the Ministers who were administered oath of office and secrecy today, ten were from JD(S) and 15 were from Congress.
Once all the Ministers are sworn-in, the Congress, the majority stakeholder in the coalition, will have 22 Ministers of the total 34 while the JD(S) will have 12. Portfolios for the Ministers will be announced later.
The Congress finalised its names in New Delhi late last evening at a meeting with Party Chief Rahul Gandhi, senior Karnataka leaders like former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, Deputy CM Dr. G. Parameshwara and party leaders Dinesh Gundu Rao and D.K. Shivakumar, besides AICC General Secretary Karnataka in-charge K.C. Venugopal. Sources said that this morning too, telephonic conversations were on with Rahul.
D.K. Shivakumar wanted to be Deputy Chief Minister but sources say, after the meeting with Rahul Gandhi, he has agreed to settle for two Ministries. He is likely to take charge of the Irrigation with Medical Education as the second portfolio.
Regarding other portfolios, sources said that Shivashankar Reddy might get Agriculture while George may get Heavy Industries. Revanna is likely to get only PWD. Khader is likely to get Housing and Urban Development while Dr. Parameshwara is likely to get Home and Bengaluru Development. Krishna Byregowda could be made Law Minister.
This post was published on June 6, 2018 6:45 pm