Now Reading: Karnataka CM Shivakumar keeps finance, law; 19 ministers get portfolios
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Karnataka CM Shivakumar keeps finance, law; 19 ministers get portfolios
Karnataka CM Shivakumar keeps finance, law; 19 ministers get portfolios
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday allocated portfolios to the 19 ministers inducted on August 3, ending 10 days of suspense. Shivakumar retained finance, law, cabinet affairs, Bengaluru Development Authority and…
The Story in Brief
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Wednesday allocated portfolios to the 19 ministers inducted on August 3, ending 10 days of suspense. Shivakumar retained finance, law, cabinet affairs, Bengaluru Development Authority and BMRDA. BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan got housing but lost minority affairs. Ramalinga Reddy was moved from water resources to forest and ecology. KH Muniyappa, who had sought a change, was shifted from food and civil supplies to social welfare. The cabinet now has 33 members, with one berth vacant. No woman minister has been appointed.
The allocations were announced a day before the legislature's Monsoon session. Nine-time MLA RV Deshpande was made chairman of the Administrative Reforms Commission with cabinet rank, and Virajpet MLA AS Ponnanna was named political secretary to the CM, also with cabinet rank. The Congress high command, led by party chief Mallikarjun Kharge, had finalised the allocations the previous day.
The Indian Opinion
The Karnataka Cabinet looks complete on paper, but the absence of a woman minister and the unrepresented Brahmin community, only partly addressed by a commission chairmanship, show the Congress is still balancing castes and factions more than merit or representation. Zameer Ahmed Khan losing minority affairs after Davangere bypoll allegations looks like a message. The real test will be how these ministers perform in the upcoming budget session: will the finance portfolio bring stability or more drama around Bengaluru's planning authorities? Numbers, not promises, will tell.
Sources (3): hindustantimes.com, indiatoday.in, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
