Stormy Karnataka monsoon session looms as opposition targets Congress

The Story in Brief

The monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature, the first under Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, is set to be stormy. The BJP-JD(S) combine plans to attack the government over the induction of scam-accused B Nagendra as Planning and Statistics minister, the absence of a woman in the 33-member cabinet, drought, and alleged corruption in the KPSC. The Congress, which reinducted Nagendra despite ED and CBI chargesheets in the Valmiki Development Corporation funds case, has stood its ground. The 10-day session runs from August 13 to 27.

Shivakumar allocated portfolios on Wednesday to the 19 ministers inducted on August 3, ending weeks of uncertainty. He retained Finance, Law, and key departments. N Chaluvarayaswamy got Water Resources; Ramalinga Reddy was moved to Forests. The cabinet still has one vacancy, and civil society criticism over the lack of a woman minister is expected to be a talking point in and outside the legislature. A S Ponnanna was appointed political secretary to the CM with cabinet minister status.