New Delhi, May 20: All decks are cleared for HD Kumaraswamy to be sworn-in for the second time as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The oath-taking ceremony is scheduled on May 23 at Kanteerava stadium, with the new government taking subsequently taking charge.
Though negotiations are underway between the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) leadership, sources claimed the Ministry-sharing formula has been largely agreed to by the two sides. While the Congress, despite winning 78 seats - twice that of the JD(S) - has ceded the CM post to Kumaraswamy, it would be rewarded with a larger share in the Cabinet.
G Parameshwara, the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), is expected to be inducted as the Deputy CM, apart from being charged with the crucial Home Ministry. Parameshwara is the tallest Dalit face of the party in the state.
Meanwhile, Finance, another key portfolio, would be kept by Kumaraswamy himself, reports said on Sunday.
While the JD(S) would also retain the portfolios of Agriculture, Education and Textiles, it is expected to cede Revenue, Excise, Forest, Small Industries, Food and Civil Supplies for its ally Congress.
Here's the Likely List of Karnataka Cabinet Ministers With the Allocation of Portfolios:
HD Kumaraswamy, JD(S) | Chief Minister and Finance Minister, |
G Parameshwara, Congress | Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister |
CS Puttaraju, JD(S) | Agriculture, |
H Vishwanath, JD(S) | Education |
KJ George, Congress | Bengaluru development minister |
M Krishnappa, Congress | Sports |
Krishna Byre Gowda, Congress | Information and publicity |
N Mahesh,JD(S) | Social Welfare |
GT Devegowda, JD(S) | Cooperatives |
Bandeppa Kashempur, JD(S) | Textiles and Endowments |
DC Thammanna, , JD(S) | Labour |
Dinesh Gundu Rao, Congress | Excise |
Dr K Sudhakar, Congress | Health |
Tanveer Sait, Congress | Higher Education |
Roshan Baig, Congress | Forest |
MD Patil, Congress | Food and Civil Supplies |
RV Deshpande, Congress | Law and Parliamentary affairs |
Satish Jarkiholi, Congress | Small Industries and Sugar |
Dr Ajay, Congress | Science and Technology |
S Shivashankarappa, Congress | Revenue |
Ramalinga Reddy, Congress | Transport |
AT Ramaswamy, JD(S) | Industries |
R Narendra, Congress | Animal Husbandry |
Notably, former CM Siddaramaiah does not feature in the list making the rounds. Analysts claim Kumaraswamy is unlikely to accept Siddaramaiah in his Cabinet as they share bitter political rivalry.
Siddaramaiah, once a senior JD(S) leader and key aide of party founder HD Deve Gowda, parted ways and joined the Congress in 2006. In the run-up to the elections, both leaders had vowed to prevent each other from becoming the chief minister again.
"Siddaramaiah had sworn everywhere that he would not allow Kumaraswamy to become chief minister. But his party has tied with up with the JD(S). What kind of a person is he (Siddaramaiah )who cannot live upto his word," ousted CM BS Yeddyurappa said in the Assembly on Saturday, minutes before announcing his resignation.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 20, 2018 03:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).