Loyalists rewarded, Siddaramaiah has last laugh

Bengaluru: A day after Congress stalwarts fell out and reportedly had a shouting match when former chief minister Siddaramaiah attempted to reward his loyalists,  All India Congress president, Rahul Gandhi signed off on a list of portfolios to be given to new ministers while also re-allocating the key portfolios of home and IT-BT, and trimming the wings of stalwarts Dr. G. Parameshwar, R.V. Deshpande and D.K. Shivakumar.

In a clear signal that Mr. Siddaramaiah's views had prevailed, and that he had the full backing of the state in charge K.C.Venugopal as well as Mr. Gandhi, Deputy CM, Dr Parameshwar had to give up home portfolio to M.B. Patil, who had been in the forefront of the separate religion agitation for Lingayats, which many said cost the Congress valuable seats in the Lingayat dominated north.     

Water Resouces minister, D.K. Shivakumar, a powerhouse in his own right was also divested of the resource-rich Medical Education portfolio, as well as that of Youth and Sports which went to Rahim Khan. Medical education was allocated to E. Thukaram. Revenue minister, R.V. Deshpande who was also holding the skill development portfolio had to part with the latter. Major Industries minister, K.J. George had to give up IT and BT. Similarly, Krishna Byre Gowda had to give up Law and parliamentary affairs.

The party will send the list to chief minister, H.D. Kumaraswamy who in turn will forward it to the governor for approval.

The way the portfolios were allocated, it is clear that Mr Siddaramaiah had his last laugh. Mr Thukaram getting medical education and controversial P.T. Parameshwara Naik getting IT and BT portfolio clearly showed that, it was Mr Siddaramaiah who dictated terms again.