After nearly a week of internal feuds and rumours of dissent within the ranks of Congress in Karnataka, the All India Congress Committee on Friday, 28 December, announced the portfolios to be taken up by the freshly inducted state minsters.
- 01/02List of portfolios(Photo: AICC)
- 02/02List of portfolios(Photo: AICC)
Talks of a rift within the party had been doing the rounds post a meeting on Wednesday, 26 December, in which former chief minister S Siddaramaiah and current Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara were said to have engaged in a war of words, after the former allegedly asked the latter to give up his coveted Home Ministry portfolio. This led to the deputy CM walking out of the meeting midway, asking the other party leaders to take a call.
AICC general secretary took a day to get Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s go-ahead for finalising the portfolios. He is said to have met Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday, 27 December for final approval.
Parameshwara Loses Home Ministry
If there was a fight for the home ministry portfolio between Parameshwara and Siddaramaiah, it would appear that the latter had the last laugh. Parameshwara had to give up his portfolio in favour of newly inducted minister MB Patil.
According to sources, Parameshwara was reluctant to give up the coveted profile, as he claimed that he has worked a lot to be in the position he is today. However, apart from the important task of governing Bengaluru as the city’s development minister, Parameshwara was also given additional charges of IT-BT, law and parliamentary affairs.
DK Shivakumar Loses 1, Gains 2 Portfolios
DK Shivakumar lost the Medical Education Ministry which was given to newly inducted minister E Tukaram.
DKS will instead take over Kannada and Culture which was earlier being handled by Jayamala. She will now handle Women and Child Development & Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens.
DKS also took additional charge of the Information and Public Relations department.
Satish Jarkiholi Gets Charge of Forest Dept
The turmoil and uncertainty of his brother Ramesh Jarkiholi’s membership in the party notwithstanding, this Jarkiholi brother will now handle Forests, Ecology and Environment. This was being previously handled by MLA R Shankar, an independent MLA who was dropped last week.
Another new minister CS Shivalli will now take care of Ramesh Jarkiholi’s municipal administration portfolio.
Ramesh Jarkiholi has been fueling rumours of defecting or quitting the party by expressing his disappointment at being dropped to mediapersons. This came after senior Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar spoke about her ‘sorrow’ at Ramesh Jarkiholi being dropped from the Cabinet.
What Did Other New Ministers Get?
RB Thimmapur (MLC from Bagalkot district ): Port and Inland Transport Dept; Sugar
CS Shivalli (Kundgol MLA): Municipal and Local Bodies (CMCs, TMCs and TPs)
PT Parameshwar Naik (Hoovina Hadagali MLA): Muzrai; Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood
MTB Nagaraju (Hoskote MLA): Housing
Rahim Khan (Bidar North MLA): Youth Empowerment and Sports
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