BENGALURU: Twenty five ministers have been inducted in Karnataka as Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy expanded his cabinet after a delay of two weeks. Kumaraswamy has kept 11 portfolios for himself, including Finance. Other departments are Energy, Infrastructure Development, Information and Public Relations and the Intelligent wing that comes under the Home Ministry. His brother HD Revanna will head the Public Works ministry.
Former Industries Minister, senior Congressman RV Deshpande is now incharge of Revenue and Skill Development. Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar also has two portfolios- Irrigation and Medical Education. Former Home Minister, KJ George will hold Industries and also IT and BT. The only female in the cabinet, National award winning actress Jayamala will handle the ministries of Women and Child Development and also Kannada and Culture.
Allotment of portfolios comes amid dissent in the Congress as many leaders are unhappy about being left out of the cabinet. Notable omissions include MP Patil, former Irrigation Minister who spearheaded the push for recommending minority status for Lingayats. HK Patil and Roshan Baig are others who failed to make the cut. The Congress still has six Cabinet berths that may help keep hopes alive and serious dissidence at bay. Sources said that by dropping the heavyweights, the high command meant to communicate its unhappiness with the local leadership's wrong reading of the election which eventually forces Congress to become a junior partner in the coalition government. The JD(S) leadership also had to bear the brunt of anger from its workers.
