Hassan district is abuzz with speculations on the possible MLAs from Hassan in the new Cabinet of the JD(S)-Congress coalition government. Of the seven seats in the district, six have been won by the JD(S) and it is almost finalised that former Minister H.D. Revanna will find a place in the Cabinet with significant portfolios.
Besides this, party workers have been demanding ministerial berths to H.K. Kumaraswamy, a six-time MLA, A.T. Ramaswamy, of Arakalgud, and K.M. Shivalinge Gowda of Arsikere. During the JD(S)-BJP coalition in 2006, Mr. Revanna was Minister for Energy and PWD. He worked as Minister in-charge of the district. In the same period, H.K. Kumaraswamy served as Minister for Women and Child Development.
Zilla panchayat member Supraditp Yajaman and others have demanded that along with Mr. Revanna, Sakleshpur MLA H.K. Kumaraswamy be inducted into the Cabinet. “Kumaraswamy has been a six-time MLA. He deserves a place in the Cabinet. If he is inducted, the taluk will benefit,” he told presspersons.
Similarly, followers of A.T. Ramaswamy, a four-time MLA, expect that he will get a chance to serve as a Minister. He was popular for his work as head of the Joint Legislature House Committee on the Land Encroachments in Bengaluru during the JD(S)-BJP rule. A section of his supporters is hoping that if not a Cabinet portfolio, he would be appointed Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly. Interestingly, both A.T. Ramaswamy and H.K. Kumaraswamy are senior to Mr. Revanna in politics. H.K. Kumaraswamy was elected to the State Assembly for the first time in 1985 and A.T. Ramaswamy was elected in 1989. However, Mr. Revanna’s career as MLA began in 1994.
JD(S) workers of Arsikere are expecting their MLA K.M. Shivalinge Gowda, who won three times in a row, to be made a Minister. Followers of C.N. Balakrishna, Shravanabelagola MLA, are demanding a berth for him citing that he won this time with a margin of 54,000 votes. There are reports that at least two MLAs, including Mr. Revanna, would get ministerial berths, while others might get opportunities to head corporations or boards.
