Karnataka cabinet: CM Kumaraswamy allocates portfolios to ministers; takes charge of 11 including the finance ministry

A government formed after an alliance of Congress and JDS in Karnataka has finally released its ministers and ministries portfolio after a long tussle between Congress lawmakers and those of JDS. The 27 ministries portfolio allocation was finalised on Friday Where Karnata CM HD Kumaraswamy takes charge of 11 ministries, including key finance department. Kumaraswamy keeps energy department while home to his deputy G Parameshwara of the Congress, including, Bengaluru City and Youth Empowerment.

“This is not an issue related to my party because these decisions ware taken within the Congress party, but I have understood his pain that he has worked for the Congress when it needed him and now he feels let down,’’ Kumaraswamy said, adding that he would request Congress leaders to address Patil’s concerns.

Kumaraswamy's elder brother HD Revanna has been an allotted charge of the Public Works Department. Among other senior Congress leaders, R V Deshpande has been given the Revenue Ministry, D K Shivakumar the Irrigation Ministry, and K J George the large, Medium Scale Industries, Information Technology and Biotechnology portfolios.

BSP MLA from Kollegal, N Mahesh has been appointed the Minister for Primary and Secondary Education. Congress MLA, Rajashekhar Patil has been given the Mines and Geology portfolio. The Congress, which has 77 MLAs in the Assembly, has got 22 ministerial berths, while the JDS with 37 legislators, has got 12 berths as per the coalition agreement. The Congress named 16 ministers and the JDS 11 on June 6.

“There is bound to be some dissatisfaction among those leaders who did not make it to the cabinet. We will try to resolve these issues. There are six vacant positions and we will fill these posts with the appropriate candidates,’’ Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara had stated on June 6 after names of the ministers in the new Cabinet were announced.