Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Wednesday said the allocation of portfolios to the newly inducted ministers has been finalised and the list has been sent to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot for approval, putting to rest speculation over further changes in the cabinet.
Responding to questions from reporters in Bengaluru about the delay in allocating portfolios and rumours of changes in the Cabinet, Shivakumar said the list would be made public within a few hours.
“The portfolio allocation list has been finalised and sent to the Governor for approval. The media will get the list in a few hours. There are no changes in the Cabinet,” he said.
However, sources said intense lobbying was continuing among both the newly inducted ministers and senior ministers who had taken the oath earlier along with Shivakumar, with several leaders seeking key portfolios.
Food Minister K.H. Muniyappa is reportedly seeking the Social Welfare portfolio. Meanwhile, ministers Zameer Ahmad Khan, N. Cheluvarayaswamy, Santosh Lad, Madhu Bangarappa, and S.S. Mallikarjun, who served in the previous Siddaramaiah-led government, are seeking the portfolios they held earlier.
Several first-time ministers, including K. Shivalingegowda, Rizwan Arshad, K.S. Basanthappa, P.M. Narendra Swamy, H.C. Balakrishna and Ajay Singh, are also reportedly lobbying for important portfolios as they seek to establish themselves in the government.
Sources said Shivakumar was under pressure over the allocation of portfolios, with the Congress high command closely involved in the process. Despite multiple visits to New Delhi by the Chief Minister, the final allocation had remained pending until Wednesday.
The delay has also put the Congress government under pressure as the Monsoon Session of the Karnataka Legislature is scheduled to begin on Thursday. The Opposition is expected to target the government over the delay, with the absence of portfolio allocation likely to become a political issue during the session.
With the Chief Minister now stating that the list has been sent to the Governor, the government is expected to formally notify the allocation shortly.
(IANS)
