Portfolios were allocated for the newly-sworn in Ministers of D.K. Shivakumar-led Karnataka Cabinet late on Thursday (June 5, 2026), after hours of uncertainty, intense negotiations and disgruntlement among some of the Ministers.
Mr. Shivakumar has kept Finance and let go of the most-contested and coveted Bengaluru Development portfolio, which he held as the Deputy Chief Minister. It has been handed to Krishna Byre Gowda. Senior Minister and eight-time legislator Ramalinga Reddy, who had sought the portfolio, has been given Major and Medium Irrigation portfolio. Unhappy, he had earlier in the day threatened to quit.
Priyank Kharge will be the new Home Minister, who will also hold IT & BT and e-governance. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara has been given Revenue and Sports, while Eshwar Khandre has been allocated Rural Development and Panchayat Raj. Byrathi Suresh has been given Transport.
Yathindra Siddaramaiah, a first-time Minister and son of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, gets Urban Development (excluding Bengaluru).
Satish Jharkiholi, K.H. Muniyappa and M.B. Patil get to retain Public Works, Food & Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Major and Heavy Industries, Infrastructure Development, respectively, that they managed in the Siddaramaiah-led government. K.J. George gets Tourism in addition to Energy that he held earlier. Sharan Prakash Patil has also retained his earlier portfolios Medical Education and Skilll Development. U.T. Khader, who resigned as Speaker to join the Cabinet, got Health and Family Welfare.
Allocation of Bengaluru Development portfolio is likely to continue to be a contentious issue, especially ahead of the impending civic polls in Bengaluru. Mr. Shivakumar held the portfolio being the Deputy Chief Minister since the Congress government came to power in 2023.
Trouble, it is learnt, was brewing since late on Wednesday night after the new Ministers were informally told about the portfolio being allocated to them. Mr. Reddy, one of the senior most Congress leader from Bengaluru, is learnt to have aired his disappointment after being told that he would get an “important portfolio”, but that Bengaluru development would go to Mr. Gowda.
Sources close to him said that he had been promised by Mr. Shivakumar that the portfolio would be given to him, which did not happen, leading to his dismay.
Published - June 05, 2026 12:15 am IST
Source: The Hindu - India News
