BSY reshuffles cabinet to contain dissent
BENGALURU: Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Friday caved into demands of dissenting ministers and made changes to his cabinet by redistributing portfolios to calm tempers, a day after rebellion broke out within his government.
The changes were made less than a day after his government distributed and reshuffled several portfolios to newly inducted ministers who were sworn in on January 13. The move leaves the 77-year old chief minister vulnerable to more such demands from disgruntled leaders within his two-year old government riven by dissent.
JC Madhuswamy, who was stripped of minor irrigation, law and parliamentary affairs was given Haj and Wakf department along with his earlier allotted medical education. “Even I do not know the details as I am in Mysuru and have had no contact with the CM. I will wait a few days before taking any decision,” Madhuswamy said on Friday. He, however, refused to reveal what decision he is likely to take.
K.gopalaiah, a former Janata
Dal (Secular) leader who helped Yediyurappa to power along with 16 other legislators, was handed the excise department.
Gopalaiah said that he was happy with the newly allotted excise portfolio.
N.nagaraju (M.T.B), one of the several people, who had openly lashed out at the choice of portfolios, was made minister for municipal administration and sugarcane development.
However, health and family welfare minister K.sudhakar remains disenchanted after he was stripped of the medical education portfolio, people aware of developments said.
Several overlooked MLAS have also started holding meetings among themselves to decide the next course of action.
Yediyurappa divested from his own kitty and handed over planning, programme monitoring and statistics department to K.c.narayana Gowda, another dissenting minister.
Arvind Limbavali, a legislator who helped secure the support of the turncoats, was given the Kannada and culture portfolio in addition to the forest department, he was allocated on Thursday.