Karnataka Cabinet: On the eve of Monsoon session, the portfolios are finally allocated

The D.K. Shivakumar-led Congress Government in Karnataka has finally allocated portfolios to the 19 newly inducted Ministers on the eve of the Monsoon session. Two senior Ministers who had previously expressed dissatisfaction with their allocations have seen changes in their portfolios. K.H. Muniyappa retained his Food and Civil Supplies Department post despite initial objections, while Ramalinga Reddy was allocated Forests, Ecology and Environment after initially receiving the Water Resources Ministry.

U.T. Khader, the Health and Family Welfare Minister, has been given the additional responsibility of Minority Welfare, Haj and Wakf. The Agriculture and Major and Medium Irrigation portfolios have been given to P.M. Narendraswamy and N. Cheluvarayaswamy, respectively, both from Mandya district. Puttaranga Shetty received Animal Husbandry and Sericulture from Chamarajanagar district.

The allocation process took nearly ten days, involving multiple visits to Delhi, meetings with disgruntled legislators, and pressure from the Ministers. The remaining woman Minister berth will be filled by a woman legislator by the Chief Minister. Some Ministers have retained their previous portfolios, including B.Z. Zameer Ahmed, Madhu Bangarappa, Shivaraj Tangadagi, Santhosh Lad, and S.S.

Mallikarjun. Basavaraja Raya Reddy and Laxman Savadi have been given Higher Education and Cooperation, respectively, both previously held under Siddaramaiah. K.S. Basanthappa, a first-time legislator, has been allocated Muzrai, Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water. B. Nagendra, facing embezzlement charges, has been given Planning and Statistics.