Revanna wants two portfolios, JD(S) leaders upset

The recent distribution of portfolios between the JD(S) and the Congress has triggered off disgruntlement among leaders of the regional party.

Several MLAs are nursing a grudge against Holenarsipur MLA and party supremo H D Deve Gowda’s son, H D Revanna, for lobbying for two key portfolios.

Some of them have even begun to voice their discontentment against Revanna’s “avarice”. Among them is ‘giant killer’ and Chamundeshwari MLA G T Deve Gowda who was hoping that he will be vested with either the revenue or water resources portfolio.

His hopes were dashed thanks to Revanna’s insistence the JD(S) keep the energy portfolio. The Congress which yielded to the demand, however, kept revenue and water resources.

Gowda might be given the cooperation portfolio. Speaking to DH, Gowda said that he will refuse the portfolio. “I have been in the cooperation sector since 1969. I don’t want to hold the portfolio yet again.” Incidentally, Gowda was given the same cooperation portfolio during the JD(S)-BJP regime in 2006.

Gowda has drummed up support from a few party colleagues including Sa Ra Mahesh (KR Nagar), K Mahadev (Periyapatna) and Ashwin Kumar M (T Narsipura), who feel that he should accommodated “appropriately” within the cabinet.

Voicing their opinion, the trio have said that Revanna should keep either one of the portfolios, not both. “If he keeps energy, he should give up PWD, or vice versa. Gowda is a giant-killer. He has defeated Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari. The party should give an important portfolio to a senior leader like him,” he added.

Besides, seven-time MLC Basavaraj Horatti has demanded that he be given the primary and secondary education portfolio, if at all he is inducted into the cabinet. It is being speculated that the party might make him the Legislative Council chairman.

Horatti, who is not happy with the idea, said, “I am a strong contender for the ministership - I am not interested in the chairman’s post. I have been an MLC for 38 years. There is growing public sentiment that I be made the education minister given my experience in the field. I feel that I should be given the education portfolio.”

Horatti, too, has gained support among his party colleagues. It is learnt that all the six MLCs in the party will meet the JD(S) leadership and demand that Horatti be made the education minister.

While all 37 JD(S) MLAs are vying for cabinet berths, lobbying for district in-charge ministership has begun, too. Maddur MLA D C Thammanna, who is related to Deve Gowda, wants the party to make him the Mandya district in-charge minister.

The JD(S) has got 12 berths, including that of the chief minister. As there are 25 Vokkaliga MLAs, the party is finding it difficult to adequately represent the community in the cabinet.

Sources said that the party might have accommodate as many as six or seven Vokkaliga MLAs. This leaves little wriggle room for the party to give representation to other community leaders in the cabinet.

Sources said that the party might keep three to four berths vacant to tide out any dissident activities.