Amid discontent, portfolios of Karnataka Ministers re-allocated with immediate effect

KEY STORY

• Bengaluru: After reports of discontent among newly sworn-in ministers, portfolios of Karnataka leaders have been re-allocated with immediate effect. Thus, some of the newly inducted ministers, who have been re-allocated portfolios include – Aravind Limbavali, who has been given Forest Department, K Gopalaiah, who has been made Excise Minister, N Nagaraj- Municipal Administration, R Shankar – Horticulture and Sericulture,  KC Narayana Gowda – Youth Affairs and Sports.

• On Thursday, after allocating the portfolios, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had refuted reports of unhappiness among the ministers and said that there was no difference of opinion among the new ministers. He had, in fact, said that the newly-appointed ministers were happy and would be attending the Cabinet together.

  “All the ministers are together and will attend the Cabinet meeting. There is no difference of opinion among the new ministers, all are happy,” Yediyurappa had said, news agency ANI had quoted.

  Portfolios to MLCs was also a concern: Report

   

• The BJP-led government had inducted 18 new ministers into the cabinet last week. The decisions regarding portfolio allocation were taken after CM Yediyurappa met home Minister Amit Shah and BJP chief JP Nadda.

Portfolios of Karnataka Ministers re-allocated with immediate effect.

Newly inducted ministers Aravind Limbavali allotted Forest Dept, K Gopalaiah – Excise, N Nagaraj- Municipal Admn, R Shankar – Horticulture & Sericulture, K.C. Narayana Gowda Youth Affairs and Sports. pic.twitter.com/yljFC3jjs7

— ANI (@ANI) January 22, 2021

• Soon after the allotment of portfolios, however, reports emerged that the ministers were unhappy with the decisions. ANI reported that JC Madhuswamy was “threatening to resign” after he lost his cabinet and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio.

• Some of the ministers were also slated to meet Yediyurappa to raise their concerns. Among other issues, some of the leaders also had concerns over portfolios being allocated to Members of Legislative Council (MLCs), instead of elected representatives.