Soon after the expansion of the State Cabinet on Friday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah allocated the Home portfolio to senior Cabinet Minister Ramalinga Reddy, a six-time MLA. The key portfolio was with the Chief Minister after the resignation of G. Parameshwara, who continued as president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.
Mr. Reddy, who represents BTM Layout constituency in Bengaluru, was Transport Minister till the reshuffle. The science graduate is 64 years old and has served as Minister of Finance, Industry, and Agricultural Marketing, Food and Civil Supplies and Bengaluru Development, besides Primary and Secondary Education. A leader who has risen from the grass roots, he was member of the Bengaluru City Corporation Council between 1983 and 88. A non-controversial politician, Mr. Reddy is known to be well-versed in Bengaluru politics and has handled civic affairs of the city. The Transport portfolio has now gone to the newly inducted Minister, H.M. Revanna, who is MLC and a loyalist of the Chief Minister.
Earlier in the day, Governor Vajubhai R. Vala administered the oath of office to the three Ministers — Mr. Revanna, R.B. Thimmapur, MLCs, and the first-time MLA, M.C. Mohan Kumari (Geetha Mahadeva Prasad), wife of former Minister and the late H.S. Mahadeva Prasad. While Mr. Revanna and Mr. Thimmapur were sworn in as Cabinet Ministers, Ms. Geetha took oath as Minister of State rank in the name of MM Hills deity.
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The Chief Minister’s office said Mr. Siddaramaiah has decided to allocate Excise portfolio to Mr. Thimmapur while Sugar and Small Scale Industries portfolios were allocated to Ms. Geetha. After H.Y. Meti’s resignation, the Excise portfolio was with the Chief Minister. Ms. Geetha got the portfolio of Sugar held by her late husband. The Cooperation portfolio was given to Ramesh Jarkiholi, who had held the Small Scale Industries portfolio. Labour Minister Santosh Lad has been given an additional portfolio of Skill Development, which was with the Chief Minister.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister promoted Priyank Kharge, Pramod Madhwaraj, Eshwar Khandre and Rudrappa Lamani from Minister of State rank to Ministers of Cabinet rank.