Bengaluru, August 13: The Congress government in Karnataka has assigned new departments to ministers just a day before the Monsoon session. Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has also made changes to the portfolios of senior ministers who took office alongside him.
Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot’s special secretary, R. Prabhu Shankar, sent the approved list to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh.
Chief Minister Shivakumar retains several key departments, including Finance, Cabinet Affairs, Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR), Intelligence, Information, Law, Justice and Human Rights, Parliamentary Affairs and Legislation, Agricultural Marketing, and the offices of Urban Local Bodies. He will also oversee the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) and the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA).
Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda had strongly requested the BDA and BMRDA departments.
B.Z. Jamir Ahmed Khan has been assigned the Housing Department. During the Siddaramaiah government, he managed the Waqf and Minority Welfare Department.
Ramalinga Reddy’s portfolio has been changed to Forest, Ecology, and Environment. He had previously refused to take charge of the Water Resources Department, insisting on the Bengaluru Development Department instead, and even submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister.
Lakshman Savadi has been given the Cooperation Department, excluding Agricultural Marketing. Savadi, who previously served as Deputy Chief Minister under the BJP government, joined Congress in 2023 after not receiving a ticket from the BJP.
Rudrappa Manappa Lamani has been assigned the Sugar and Textile Department. He has previously served as the Deputy Speaker of the Karnataka Assembly.
K.H. Muniyappa will now oversee the Social Welfare Department instead of Food and Civil Supplies.
Shivraj Tangadagi has been assigned the Backward Classes Welfare and Kannada and Culture Departments.
U.T. Khader will continue to manage the Health and Family Welfare Department, with additional responsibilities for Minority Welfare, Hajj, and Waqf.
T. Raghu Murthy has been appointed as the ST Welfare Minister.
Ajay Singh has been assigned the Minor Irrigation and Science and Technology Departments.
Cheluvarayaswamy will oversee both Major and Minor Irrigation Departments.
Madhu Bangarappa will continue with the Primary and Secondary Education Departments.
Basavaraj Raya Reddy has been assigned the Higher Education Department.
Shivlinga Gowda will manage the Excise Department.
Puttaranga Shetty has been given the Animal Husbandry and Sericulture Departments.
Vijayanand Kashappanavar will oversee the Small Industries and Public Enterprises Departments.
Santosh Lad has been assigned the Labor and Employment Department.
K.S. Basavanthappa will manage the Muzrai, Fisheries, Ports, and Inland Water Transport Departments.
S.S. Mallikarjun will continue with the Mining and Geology and Horticulture Departments.
Rizwan Arshad has been assigned the Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department.
Narendra Swamy will oversee the Agriculture Department.
H.C. Balakrishna has been assigned the Municipal Administration Department.
B. Nagendra will manage the Planning and Statistics Department.
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