The sharing of portfolios in the coalition government is being seen as a victory for the Janata Dal (Secular), as it has cornered the revenue-generating portfolios of Finance, Excise and Transport.
The Congress, which has 22 berths in the 34-member ministry, has secured largely revenue-expenditure portfolios.
After a weeklong consultations between the two parties, the JD(S) bagged the coveted Finance portfolio. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy is expected to keep himself the Finance portfolio since he has already initiated talks on waiver of crop loans borrowed by farmers.
Finance is a major revenue-earning ministry in the government. The Commercial Taxes Department is the largest contributor of revenue to the State exchequer. Commercial Taxes contribute 64% of the total revenue generation. The department is expected to collect ₹65,800 crore in taxes in 2018–19.
The JD(S) also secured the Excise portfolio, which contribute 18% to the State exchequer. Revenue generation from this department is estimated at ₹18,750 crore.
Motor Vehicles Taxes wing, which comes under the Transport Department, has also been given to the JD(S). The wingcontributes 6% of the revenue to the State exchequer (₹6,600 crore expected in 2018–19).
Lobbying on
Sources said ministerial aspirants in the JD(S) had already commenced hectic lobbying for securing “resourceful” portfolios such as Excise and Transport.
After hard negotiations, the regional party successfully got the Energy portfolio too. Since the State has been facing power deficit, the Energy Department would assume significance, particularly when the government decides to buy power from private suppliers.
Cooperation is the another portfolio with the JD(S) which has a vital role to play in the event the coalition government deciding to waive crop loans borrowed by farmers. All government-run cooperative banks function under the department.
Stamps and Registration
The Congress has been given more than two dozen departments. The only revenue-earning department among them is the Stamps and Registration Department under the Revenue Ministry. The Stamps and Registrations Department is expected to contribute 10% (₹10,400 crore) of that total revenue to the exchequer in 2018–19.
Meanwhile, the Congress has been allotted heavily expenditure-oriented departments such as Home, Irrigation, Health, Muzrai, Rural Development, Agriculture, Housing, Medical Education, Social Welfare, Labour, and Women and Child Welfare.
