Burdened CM plans Cabinet rejig

Swamped with 20 portfolios, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Thursday said he was planning to expand his ministry shortly to ease the burden. 

Speaking to reporters at his home office Krishna, he said he would consult senior BJP leaders in two or three days and take a final decision. 

“My intention is to expand the Cabinet before the budget session (likely to commence in either first or second week of next month),” he said.

After the resignation of three ministers over the porngate scandal and the death of Higher Education Minister V S Acharya recently, the number of vacancies in the Gowda Cabinet has increased to 11. The permitted strength of the Cabinet is 34, including the chief minister.

As a result, the burden on the chief minister has considerably increased as he has been looking after all these portfolios. 

Sources said Gowda has started feeling the burden as he has to finalise the budget proposals of these departments for the coming financial year. Besides, he is looking after their day-to-day administration. Some of the important portfolios he is handling include Revenue, Co-operation, Women and Child Development, Higher Education, Health and Bangalore Development.

Sources in the BJP said the expansion of the Cabinet may ease the chief minister’s burden, but shortlisting the candidates would be a daunting task for him. 

There are many factions and too many aspirants lobbying to get Cabinet berths in the party.