Bengaluru: Even as more than two weeks have passed since H D Kumaraswami became Karnataka Chief Minister, the newly formed state government is in disarray. In fact, allocation of portfolios has kicked off more troubles for the Congress and the JD(S) in the state..
Many ministers unhappy with the portfolios allocated to them are openly expressing anger against the Gowda family and the Congress high command.
The Chief Minister has kept two important portfolios, finance and power with himself along with a dozen other ministries.
After the Congress and some JD(S) leaders opposed two portfolios to his elder brother HD Revanna, the Chief Minister has given him only the Public Works Department (PWD).
Several JD(S) MLAs are upset with Kumaraswamy for giving them lighter portfolios. But it is in the Congress camp, pots are boiling. More than 20 MLAs have openly shown unhappiness with the party leadership. The allocation of portfolios has led to more trouble in the party.
Two veterans, RV Deshpande and KJ George, have got plum portfolios. Revenue has been given to Deshpande and George has bagged Industries, Commerce, IT and BT. Krishna Byregowda has got almost half a dozen ministries, including the coveted Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Law and Parliamentary Affairs.
Mallikarjuna Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge has got the lucrative Social Welfare portfolio.
UT Khader, the only Congress candidate to win from the entire Udupi-Mangalore region, has got the sought-after Urban Development portfolio.
Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, who is in the eye of a storm for allegedly working against Congress colleagues MB Patil and Dinesh Gundurao, has got the powerful portfolios of Home and Bengaluru Development.
The allocation has added to fuel to fire and those who have not been allocated with ministerial berths are demanding that he be stripped of the Bengaluru Development portfolio.
The party’s crisis manager, DK Shivakumar, has got the most lucrative Water Resources and Medical Education portfolios.
Independent MLA R Shankar has got Forest, Ecology and Environment ministries.
MB Patil’s rival in Bijapura district, Shivananda Patil, has been entrusted with the lighter portfolio of Labour.
JD(S) veteran GT Deve Gowda has been given the Education portfolio, but he is reportedly angry over missing out on Power and PWD.
