CM keeps Energy, DKS gets Water Resources

Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has decided to retain the Energy portfolio, while his deputy G Parameshwara has got Home and Bengaluru City development. The chief minister will also handle Finance.

There was a tussle between the coalition partners — the Congress and the JD(S) — on who should get Energy portfolio, which led to a delay in the allotment of ministries.

Governor Vajubhal Vala on Friday signed the portfolio list sent to him by Kumaraswamy.

Senior Congress leader D K Shivakumar, and Kumaraswamy’s brother H D Revanna were behind the portfolio. ‘Giant killer’ G T Deve Gowda (JD-S) who defeated former chief minister Siddaramaiah in the Chamundeshwari Assembly constituency, was also keen on getting the portfolio.

Shivakumar has been allotted Water Resources along with Medical Education. Revanna has been given Public Works Department, a portfolio which he held previously too.

G T Deve Gowda has been allotted Higher Education. R V Deshpande of the Congress has been allotted Revenue besides Skill Development while his party colleague K J George has been assigned Large and Medium Scale Industries.

Kumaraswamy had expanded his Cabinet by inducting 25 new ministers on Wednesday. Lobbying by ministers to get key portfolios is said to be the main reason why the allotment of ministries was put on hold on Thursday.

Kumaraswamy has also retained the Infrastructure Development portfolio, Excise, Textiles besides six other ministries. The lone woman in the Cabinet Jayamala will handle the Women and Child Development portfolio besides Kannada and Culture.

According to the agreement, the Congress and the JD(S) have agreed to share the ministerial berths in the ratio of 22:12. At present, there are 27 members in the Cabinet including the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.

The lone BSP legislator who was inducted into the Cabinet, N Mahesh will be handling the Primary and Secondary Education portfolio, while KPJP legislator R Shankar has been allotted Forest, Ecology and Environment.