DK Shivakumar’s troubles have intensified after becoming the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. He suffered a major setback just a day after the cabinet ministers were allocated portfolios. Disgruntled over not being given the portfolio of his choice, his cabinet minister, Ramalinga Reddy, resigned from his post. In his resignation, Ramalinga Reddy stated, “I am still in the Congress party. I have not resigned from the party. I have been in the Congress party for the last 53 years. I have held many responsibilities in the party. I have served as a minister in the cabinets of several Chief Ministers, including former Chief Ministers M. Veerappa Moily and S.M. Krishna. I have never asked for a ministerial position from anyone.”
It is noteworthy that DK Shivakumar distributed portfolios among his 13 cabinet members on Thursday night. Chief Minister Shivakumar retained Finance, Cabinet Affairs, the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), Intelligence, and other undivided portfolios. Ramalinga Reddy was assigned the Water Resources (Major and Medium Irrigation) portfolio. This angered him. It is reported that he was not given the portfolio of his choice.
Sources indicate that Ramalinga Reddy had been demanding the Bengaluru Urban Development portfolio. However, DK Shivakumar assigned this portfolio to Byatarayanapura MLA Krishna Byre Gowda. Ramalinga was instead assigned the Water Resources (Major and Medium Irrigation) portfolio. Ramalinga flatly refused to accept this portfolio. He had already announced his resignation from the ministerial post.
Ramalinga is 72 years old and has been elected to the Legislative Assembly for the eighth time. He served as Transport Minister in the Siddaramaiah government. Reddy also served as the Home Minister of Karnataka from 2017 to 2018. In the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections, Reddy retained his seat by defeating BJP candidate K.R. Sridhara. According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), he received 68,557 votes, or 50.70 percent, while Sridhara received 59,335 votes, or 43.88 percent.
Chief Minister Shivakumar retained Finance, Cabinet Affairs, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), Intelligence, and other undivided portfolios.
Siddaramaiah’s son Yatindra Siddaramaiah was given the much-awaited Urban Development portfolio.
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara was given the Revenue and Sports portfolios.
K.H. Muniyappa received the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs portfolios.
K.J. George was given the Energy and Tourism portfolios.
M.B. Patil received the Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure portfolios.
Ramalinga Reddy was given the Water Resources (Major and Medium Irrigation) portfolio.
Satish Jarkiholi was given the Public Works Department (PWD).
Krishna Byre Gowda has been given the responsibility of the Greater Bengaluru Development Department.
Priyank Kharge has been given the Home Department (excluding the Intelligence Branch), Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT-BT), and e-Governance Department.
UT Khader has been given the Health and Family Welfare Department. He was previously the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
Bairathi Suresh has been given the Transport Department.
Sharan Prakash Patil has been given the Medical Education and Skill Development Department.
Ishwar Khandre has been given the responsibility of the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (RDPR) Department.