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Karnataka Cabinet: CM Siddaramaiah Keeps Finance DCM Shivakumar Gets Irrigation Bengaluru Development

In the Karnataka Cabinet , Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has distributed portfolios to ministers, choosing to retain the Finance department for himself. He has entrusted his deputy, DK Shivakumar, with the important responsibilities of the Irrigation and Bengaluru City Development departments.

On May 20, Siddaramaiah, along with Shivakumar and eight ministers, solemnly assumed office by taking the oath of office.
Following extensive discussions with the central leadership of the Congress, Siddaramaiah further augmented the Cabinet by appointing 24 new ministers on Saturday, thereby reaching its maximum capacity.

In a recent notification released on Sunday, the Karnataka government announced the allocation of portfolios to key ministers. G Parameshwara, who has previously held the Home department, has once again been entrusted with the same portfolio. Joining the cabinet, MB Patil has been appointed as the new minister for Large and Medium Industries, while KJ George has been given the responsibility of overseeing the Energy Department. These changes reflect the government's efforts to streamline its administration and enhance focus on important sectors.

In addition to overseeing the Finance department, the chief minister, who has successfully presented 13 state budgets, has retained responsibility for Cabinet Affairs, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, Intelligence, Information, IT and BT, Infrastructure Development, and all other portfolios that have not been specifically assigned.

Shivakumar has been entrusted with the crucial portfolios of Major and Medium Irrigation, Bengaluru City Development, and oversight of key agencies such as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority, and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited.

Shivakumar, originally from the nearby Ramanagara district, has been appointed as the head of the Bengaluru City Development department, even though there are five MLAs from the city who serve as ministers in the Cabinet. This allocation of portfolio holds significance, especially in light of the forthcoming BBMP polls.

HK Patil has been appointed as the Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation, and Tourism, while KH Muniyappa, a former Union minister, has taken charge as the Minister of Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs. This marks KH Muniyappa's inaugural tenure in the state Cabinet.

Ramalinga Reddy, having been appointed as the Minister for Transport and Muzrai, found himself amidst speculation regarding his preference for the Transport department. To address this uncertainty, Shivakumar paid a visit to Reddy's residence on Sunday evening, engaging in discussions with him.

Dinesh Gundu Rao now holds the portfolio of Health and Family Welfare, while HC Mahadevappa has taken charge of Social Welfare. Satish Jarakiholi has been allocated the responsibility of Public Works, and Krishna Byregowda has been entrusted with the important portfolio of Revenue.

Priyank Kharge, the son of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, has been appointed as the Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj. Shivanand Patil, on the other hand, has been assigned the portfolios of Textiles, Sugarcane Development, and the Directorate of Sugar, Agricultural Marketing, previously held by the Cooperation Department.

BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan is set to assume responsibility for Housing, Wakf, and Minority Welfare, while Sharanabasappa Darshanapur has been assigned Small Scale Industries and Public Enterprises. Eshwar Khandre will now oversee Forest, Ecology, and Environment, N Cheluvarayaswamy will be in charge of Agriculture, and SS Mallikarjun will handle Mines, Geology, and Horticulture. Rahim Khan will take on the duties of Municipal Administration and Haj, and Santhosh L Lad will oversee the Labour department.

Laxmi R Hebbalkar, the only woman in the Cabinet, has been appointed to oversee the portfolios of Women and Child Development as well as Disabled and Senior Citizens Empowerment. Meanwhile, Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil has been assigned the responsibility of the Medical Education and Skill Development portfolio.

Here are some ministers and their respective departments:

RB Timmapur is in charge of the Excise department.
K Venkatesh oversees the Animal Husbandry and Sericulture department.
Shivaraj Tangadagi is responsible for the Backward Class, Kannada, and Culture departments.
D Sudhakar is in charge of the Planning and Statistics department.
B Nagendra heads the Youth Services, Sports, and ST Welfare departments.
KN Rajanna oversees the Co-operation department.
Suresha BS is responsible for the Urban Development and Town Planning department.
Mankal Vaidya is in charge of the Fisheries and Ports, Inland Transport department.

In the recent cabinet reshuffle, Madhu Bangarappa has been appointed to oversee the Primary and Secondary Education portfolio, while MC Sudhakar will assume responsibility for the Higher Education sector. Additionally, NS Boseraju has been allocated the crucial roles of Minor Irrigation, Science, and Technology.

Following the recent Cabinet expansion, discontent arose within the Congress as a number of MLAs, who had aspired to become ministers, were overlooked, necessitating efforts by party leaders to assuage their concerns.

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