Ahead of the first Cabinet meeting, Karnataka CM makes minor re-allocation of portfolios

According to sources, initially, Patil was given the IT & BT portfolio along with Industries. However, in a subsequent revision, the department went to Kharge along with Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. With Patil keen on IT & BT, apparently opposing this move, Siddarmaiah had kept the portfolio with himself.

Kharge was minister for IT & BT in the earlier Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.

The day also saw the Congress’ star political strategist Sunil Kanugolu was appointed the chief advisor to the chief minister. He has been given Cabinet rank.

Credited as the brain behind several of the Congress’ successful poll campaigns, ground surveys, and feedback systems aiding in candidate selection and booth management in Karnataka, Sunil Kanugolu is also an AICC member from the state.

Also read: Sunil Kanugolu appointed chief advisor to Karnataka CM 

Cabinet-level posts for Savadi, Shettar?

Meanwhile, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar flew to North Karnataka and held talks with Athani MLA Laxman Savadi and Jagadish Shettar in Belagavi and Hubballi, respectively, assuring them of top posts in the Congress government.

In a special flight, Shivakumar flew to Belagavi, which is his first visit to North Karnataka after taking over as the deputy chief minister, late at night to meet Savadi on Tuesday.

On Wednesday morning, he flew to Hubballi to meet Jagadish Shettar at his residence. Shettar lost badly on a Congress ticket from the Hubballi-Dharwad Central Assembly seat in the polls.

Shivakumar was accompanied by Minister for Public Works Satish Jarkiholi and Minister for Women and Child Welfare Laxmi Hebbalkar.

Athani MLA Laxman Savadi made it clear to Shivakumar during the meeting at his residence in Belagavi that he would not accept anything less than a Cabinet post.

Also read: Nothing less than Cabinet berth. Will wait for it: Savadi

To discuss poll guarantees 

In the first full Karnataka Cabinet meeting after the elections scheduled to take place on Friday, the newly elected Congress government’s Council of Ministers is set to discuss guidelines, framework, and norms for implementation of the five guarantees.

The chief minister chaired a pre-Cabinet meeting of sorts with all the ministers and senior officials of the concerned departments at the Vidhana Soudha on Wednesday, before announcing the reshuffle.

After the pre-Cabinet meeting, Siddaramaiah told reporters: “We had given five guarantees to the people. Concerned officials and finance department officials have made a presentation regarding them.”

He added: “All the ministers have seen the presentation. It has all the details — proposals and financial implications of the implementation.”

He continued: “Discussions and decisions [on the proposals and promises] will be held in the next Cabinet meeting. After that, our decision will be announced on 2 June.”

(With PTI inputs)