Excise minister? Me? I don't know, says Renukacharya

The secretary to Governor, on Thursday, issued a notification allotting Excise portfolio to Renukacharya, which was earlier with Katta Subramanya Naidu. Katta has been allotted Housing, which was hitherto with the CM.

Renukacharya, it is said, wants the Housing portfolio, while the CM is not ready to offer it. Katta, who is in the inner circles of the CM, was keen on having the Housing portfolio.
Sources in the party said that Housing has become a sought after portfolio as it deals with land acquisition and sale which is considered as ‘lucrative’.

“A former minister and a high profile minister and their family members are into real estate business. KHB is into land acquisition and forming sites. Naturally, the housing portfolio is considered as a key one,” the sources said,

It is said that the excise sector is already being ‘controlled’ by some select leaders and hence Renukacharaya has reservations in becoming excise minister. Sources in the CM’s office said that there were no chances of changing the portfolios. The same had been conveyed to Renukacharya.

The new minister visited Chamundi temple and Suttur mutt in Mysore on Friday. He said he would visit Honnali on Saturday.