Congress President Rahul Gandhi is in the midst of intense conversations with key stakeholders on allocation of cabinet portfolios in the national capital. One Congress leader from Karnataka, who is present at the meeting, told Janta Ka Reporter that the announcement on the new cabinet was imminent ‘any time now.’
“The talks have been incredibly fruitful and we are hoping that the announcement on the new cabinet will be made tonight or early tomorrow morning. However, the concerned individuals will be informed tonight,” the Congress leader said wishing to remain anonymous.
The swearing-in of the new cabinet will take place on Wednesday in Bengaluru. The delegation from Karnataka will take the flight back from Delhi late Tuesday night. The Congress has been allocated 22 ministries, while the alliance partner, the JDS, has got 12 ministerial berths.
Meanwhile, several leaders familiar with Karnataka politics within the Congress party, told Janta Ka Reporter, appeared anxious on a potential backlash from their crisis manager DK Shivakumar. Shivakumar, one of the wealthiest MLAs in Karnataka, has been instrumental in warding off several rounds of crises for the Congress party single-handedly. He was widely hailed for thwarting the combined efforts of BS Yeddyurappa and BJP President Amit Shah to form government in Karnataka post 12 May assembly polls. In the past, he hosted Congress MLAs from Maharashtra and Gujarat as his party faced serious crises posed by rival parties.
The veteran Vokkaliga leader, who held the energy portfolio in the Siddaramaiah government, was expecting to be rewarded with bigger ministry even the post of deputy chief minister. But that post went to G Parameshwara. Now, it remains to be seen how Gandhi manages to pacify him.
The Congress had announced its intention to give the post of chief minister to the JDS soon after it emerged that no single party had secured a decisive mandate in Karnataka post 12 May assembly polls.
The decision to finalise the cabinet was put on hold as Rahul had to accompany his mother and the UPA chairperson, Sonia Gandhi, abroad for a routine medical check-up.
Kumaraswamy had taken oath as the state’s chief minister after the BJP’s BS Yeddyurappa had failed to secure the majority. His party had staked claim to form the government despite falling short of majority by eight MLAs in the 224-member Karnataka assembly.
On the reports of differences, Kumaraswamy had told ANI on Monday that there was no rift between the JDS and the Congress. He had said, “There is no difference between our MLAs. They have given total freedom to party’s president to select the future cabinet. 2-3 vacancies will be there.”
Live Updates:
- Independent candidate from Ranibennur, R Shankar, who supported the Congress after the results, inducted in the Cabinet. (Deccan Chronicle)
- Congress MLC Jayamala sworn in as the lone woman minister. (Deccan Chronicle)
- Shivanand Patil, Venkataramanappa, Rajshekar Basavaraj Patil and C. Puttaranga Shetty took the oath of office. (Deccan Chronicle)
- Lone BSP MLA N Mahesh was also sworn-in. BSP had a pre-poll alliance with the JD(S).
- BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Congress MLA from Chamarajpet, inducted as the minister in the Cabinet.
- JD(S) MLAs C S Puttaraju and S R Mahesh sworn-in.
- Priyank Kharge, son of Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, and former food and civil supplies minister U T Abdul Khader also took the oath as ministers. Khader had also served as the health minister of the state. (Deccan Chronicle)
- Bandappa Kashampur from JD(S) and Congress MLA RV Deshpande took the oath
- JD(S)’ GT Devegowda, who defeated former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in Chamundeshwari, also took the oath. (Deccan Chronicle)
- Congress leaders N H Shivashankar Reddy, who is the former deputy speaker, and Ramesh Jharkiholi were also inducted in the Cabinet. (Deccan Chronicle)
- JD(S)’ SR Srinivas and DC Thamanna were also sworn-in as ministers.
- Former agriculture minister Krishna Byregowda and former minister for city development KJ George from the Congress also took oath as ministers. (Deccan Chronicle)
- Senior Congress leader DK Shivakumar took oath as minister.
- HD Revanna, brother of chief minister Kumaraswamy, was the first one to take oath as minister (Deccan Chronicle)
- Almost everything’s finalised. We’ve submitted our proposals,including portfolios & Rahul Gandhi will approve tomorrow morning. Once approved, I’ll let you know: G Parameshwara (ANI)
- Ministries of finance, excise and transport to go to the JD(S), while the Congress to retain home, industries and revenue among other portfolios.
- Aside from Congress chief G Parameshwara, who was sworn in as the deputy chief minister, 14 more ministries will be decided by Congress for now, say sources.
- Oath taking ceremony of
#Karnataka ministers to take place tomorrow at 2.12 pm in Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru. Congress has been allocated 22 portfolios and 12 ministerial berths have been allocated to JD(S), reports ANI.
