BSY REJIGS K’TAKA CABINET FOURTH TIME IN FIVE DAYS

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Monday announced a reshuffle in his cabinet, followed by another later in the day reversing the earlier rejig, all in an attempt to mollify and contain the discontent among his ministers.

This is the fourth time that the 77-year-old chief minister of the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has re-allocated portfolios since January 21.

Ceding to demands from upset ministers, Yediyurappa restored and redistributed portfolios of Jcmadhuswamy, Anand Singh, K Sudhakar and CP Yogeeshwara.

The rounds of portfolio reallocation have come after Yediyurappa expanded his 17-month old cabinet on January 13, by inducting seven ministers, after a long wait, which had resulted in resentment among several ministerial aspirants.

BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister Bsyediyurappa on Monday announced a reshuffle in his cabinet, followed by another later in the day reversing the earlier rejig, all in an attempt to mollify and contain the discontent among ministers.

This is the fourth time that the 77-year-old chief minister of the BJP has re-allocated portfolios since January 21.

Ceding to demands from upset ministers, Yediyurappa restored and redistributed portfolios of J.c.madhuswamy, Anand Singh, K Sudhakar and C P Yogeeshwara.

Anand Singh, a former mining baron, was given infrastructure development, and Haj and Wakf portfolios while the medical education department was restored to K.sudhakar, a doctor by qualification, in addition to health and family welfare portfolio that he currently holds.

Madhuswamy, who was assigned tourism, ecology and environment departments earlier on Monday was given the minor irrigation department on Monday night in yet another reshuffle, after he publicly aired his displeasure.

Last week, Madhuswamy was divested of his minor irrigation, law, parliamentary affairs, and legislation portfolios and was allocated medical education, Kannada and culture departments. The following day his portfolios were reallocated and he was given Haj and Wakf departments but relieved of Kannada and culture. Madhuswamy on Monday said that he was “upset” as his departments have been changed repeatedly and he would arrive at some decision after the Republic Day flag hoisting on Tuesday, as his self-esteem was deeply hurt.

Sources close to the minister said that with the CM reassigning the minor irrigation department to Madhuswamy, which was one of his main demands, the legislator was unlikely to take any drastic step.

“The government is giving out all the wrong signals and is succumbing to pressure and blackmail. We will take up all issues like instability, corruption, lack of administration, health, farmer issues among others in the upcoming session,” Eshwar Khandre, the working president of the Congress party in Karnataka said.

The session will begin on January 28.