Karnataka cabinet: BS Yediyurappa announces portfolios of 10 new ministers

The ten BJP MLAs, all defectors from the Congress and JDS, were inducted as ministers last Thursday

All 10 newly-inducted ministers were given portfolios on Monday with Ramesh Jarkiholi emerging as the real winner of sorts with Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa giving up the plum Water Resources department.

The 10 legislators, who were earlier with the Congress and the JD(S), were sworn in on Feb. 6.

The water resources, or irrigation, is considered plum given the funding it gets year on year and mega projects that are taken up. This is the only portfolio the CM has divested of himself, giving nine other new ministers departments that were additionally held by the incumbent.

Yediyurappa continues to hold the energy and Bengaluru city development portfolios, which are also considered plum.

Jarkiholi was reportedly hellbent on the water resources portfolio, which his bete noire D K Shivakumar of the Congress had under the previous Congress-JD(S) coalition. It was under the coalition regime that Jarkiholi’s turf war with Shivakumar led to a rebellion that ultimately led to the BJP coming to power.

Besides Jarkiholi, other newly-inducted ministers indulged in hectic lobbying for portfolios of their choice. Once Governor Vajubhai R Vala signed on the list of portfolios, there was some disappointment.

K Sudhakar, who studied MBBS, indicated unhappiness over being given medical education, which was held by Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan. “I had spoken something else with the CM,” Sudhakar said and laughed. “I’ll hold a meeting with officials. I’ll need three days to understand everything and devise a blueprint and share my vision," he added.

It is speculated that Sudhakar wanted the energy portfolio, which the CM has kept.

B A Basavaraj (Byrathi), too, did not sound upbeat on being given urban development. “Bengaluru city development would have been nicer. I could’ve focussed on solving the garbage problem and modernising Bengaluru,” he told DH. Nonetheless, he said he will sit down with officials and have his task cut out. “There are 10 city corporations in the state. I’ll discuss with officials on what can be done.”

Another minister who was eyeing Bengaluru city development was S T Somashekhar, who has been given the co-operation portfolio, considering his experience in the sector.

It is said that Yediyurappa has retained energy and Bengaluru city development to be given to “native” BJP legislators who will be inducted into his Cabinet later. The Cabinet currently has 28 members and six berths are still vacant.

Deputy Chief Minister and Transport Minister Laxman Savadi has been stripped of the agriculture portfolio, which has been given to Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Yediyurappa's confidant. Likewise, newly inducted Shivaram Hebbar has been given labour, which was with Primary & Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar.