Yogeeshwara gets Forests; Textiles for Varthur

C P Yogeeshwara is the Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment, and Varthur Prakash is the Minister for Textiles.

Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda’s decision to entrust the responsibility of the sensitive Forests portfolio to Yogeeshwara, a first time minister, has raised many eyebrows. The Channapatna MLA, who hopped over to the ruling BJP from the Congress, is said to be close to former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa. Yogeeshwara had sought the BWSSB portfolio which is now with Suresh Kumar.

H C Vijayashankar, BJP MLC from Mysore, was holding the Forests portfolio in the Yeddyurappa cabinet.

Prakash, who is an independent MLA supporting the government, is said to be unhappy with the Textiles portfolio. He had sought plum portfolios like Revenue or Transport from the chief minister.

When contacted, Varthur, however, said he had not demanded any specific portfolio and that he would accept the portfolio given by the chief minister.

Other ministers

* Balachandra Jarkiholi: Municipal Administration, excluding city corporations
* Raju Gouda (Narasimha Naik): Small Scale Industries
* Anand Asnotikar: Fisheries, Science and Technology