Finally, it is full house for the Karnataka cabinet. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inducted three new members—MLCs H.M. Revanna, R.B. Thimmapur and Gundlupet MLA M.C. Mohana Kumari (Geeta Mahadevaprasad), into his cabinet on Friday. The new ministers were administered oath of office by Governor Vajubhai Vala at Raj Bhavan.
The ministerial berths had fallen vacant following the death of cooperation minister H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, and resignation of H.Y. Meti (over alleged sex scandal) and G. Parameshwara (who quit after getting another term as KPCC chief). While the cabinet expansion is unlikely to disturb the caste equations, Siddaramaiah bulldozing the choice of KPCC chief G. Parameshwara has widened the rift between the two leaders. Siddramaiah choosing only his close aides has also upset several senior leaders and cabinet hopefuls. Parameshwara and a host of senior leaders including Motamma, V.S. Ugrappa, were conspicuous by their absence during the swearing-in ceremony.
Many feel the chief minister has overlooked seniority and inducted a first-time MLA Geeta Mahadeva Prasad (who won the seat in April bypolls), only to secure his home turf Mysuru, ahead of the 2018 polls.
This time, Siddaramaiah is preparing to contest from Chamundeshwara constituency and is preparing his son Dr Yathindra to contest from Varuna—his current constituency. His choosing Geeta over Tiptur MLA.K. Shadakshari, (supported by Parameshwara) is to pacify the Lingayat community in the Mysuru region, as the Lingayat votes are decisive not just in Mysuru but also in the neighbouring Nanjangud and Gundlupet areas. Moreover, the Congress government's initial support to the Lingayat's demand for a separate religion status has put Siddaramaiah in a fix, as many influential Lingayat mutts, especially the Suttur Mutt in Mysore are upset with the move.
Fearing a backlash for “breaking” the community for electoral gains, Siddaramaiah rushed to the mutt recently to call truce, and Geeta's induction is also believed to be an effort to pacify the Lingayats in the region.
A ministerial berth for Thimmapur had seemed doubtful till the last minute, as the BJP has been opposing his induction, alleging he furnished a local (Bengaluru) address to enable him to vote for the last mayoral elections, but has been claiming TA and DA expenses to travel to his hometown in Bagalkot.
“These are mobile voters who create false addresses to vote for corporation and municipal bodies,” said BJP leader and former deputy chief minister R. Ashok.
“Thimmapur has no moral right to be the minister as he has commited a criminal offence. We want all eight Congress MLCs who voted in the last mayoral polls by providing fake address to be disqualified from the Upper House,” said Jagadish Shettar, leader of the opposition in assembly.
Cabinet rejig
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who was juggling two major portfolios—home and finance, can now breathe easy, as he has handed over the home portfolio to Ramalinga Reddy (who previously held transport). The newly inducted minister H.M. Revanna will take over as the new transport minister, Geeta Mahadeva Prasad will handle both small scale industries and sugar, while Thimmapur gets excise. Ramesh Jarkiholi will now handle cooperation and Santosh Lad will now handle both labour and skill development portfolios.
The rejig also saw the elevation of Priyank Kharge, Pramod Madhwaraj, Rudrappa Lamani and Eshwar Khandre to the cabinet rank.
While Revanna and Thimmapur were sworn in as cabinet ministers, Geeta, the second lady in Siddaramaiah cabinet, is an MoS.
