Karnataka Cabinet portfolios: Congress ministers say allocations likely soon as High Command holds discussions

Bengaluru, Aug 11 (IANS) The Karnataka government is holding discussions to finalise Cabinet portfolios for its newly inducted ministers. Senior ministers maintained on Tuesday that the allocation is expected to be completed soon as the Congress high command is holding discussions.

According to insiders, the Congress high command is holding discussions on the distribution of portfolios, with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala involved in the deliberations.

The final list is expected to be approved by the high command before it is handed over to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

Sources said CM Shivakumar has already submitted a list of proposed portfolios to Venugopal and the high command is expected to take a decision shortly. With the Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature scheduled to begin on August 13, pressure has mounted on the government to complete the exercise before the session starts.

Minister Shivaraj Tangadagi, speaking to reporters in Koppal on Tuesday, said the portfolios would most likely be allotted by Tuesday evening.

“Most probably, the Cabinet portfolios will be allotted by this evening. I will take up whatever portfolio is allotted to me and work. There is no question of any misunderstanding or confusion,” he said.

Tangadagi also pointed out that there had been delays in allocating portfolios during the tenure of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa as well, and sought to downplay the delay in the present government.

Meanwhile, Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy said in Kolar that the allocation would be completed before the Assembly session begins.

“The session begins on August 13. The Cabinet portfolios will be allocated before that,” he said, while acknowledging that some dissatisfaction within the party was inevitable.

“There will be some amount of dissatisfaction in the party. There cannot be complete understanding and peace everywhere,” Reddy said.

Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had on Monday said the Cabinet portfolios would be allotted before the Assembly session, although he indicated that broader discussions on Cabinet-related issues would continue after the session.

The delay has also revived speculation over the creation of additional Deputy Chief Minister posts. PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi said the issue had been discussed but no decision had been taken yet.

“The discussion regarding additional Deputy Chief Minister posts has taken place, but nothing has been finalised at present. The party may take a decision on this in the future. We will discuss it on the party platform and abide by whatever decision is taken,” Jarkiholi said in Belagavi.

Meanwhile, Minister H.C. Balakrishna in Bengaluru hit out at the Opposition.

“BJP and JD(S) are there to criticise the Congress party. They are not there to praise us. What if all the portfolios are not allocated? Aren’t we managing everything?” he said.

Balakrishna added that he was effectively responsible for all departments in his district and would be held accountable for anything that happened there.

With the high command now examining the proposed list and the Assembly session only two days away, the Congress leadership is under pressure to end the uncertainty and assign departments to the newly inducted ministers. Ministers, however, continue to maintain that the allocation will be completed shortly.

–IANS

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