Karnataka portfolio allocations postponed

Bengaluru: Portfolio allocation to new ministers in Karnataka has been put off to Monday, February 10, as chief minister B S Yediyurappa is under pressure to give them plum assignments.

The chief minister said the allocations are ready but they will only be given out on Monday. He did not say why.

Ten defectors who had helped the BJP wrest power from the Congress-JD(S) coalition were rewarded with cabinet berths on Thursday and were expected to given new jobs on Saturday.

Sources said one MLA in particular, Ramesh Jarkiholi, from Gokak, has his eyes set on the water resource department but the BJP leadership wants to give him public works. Jarkiholi is said to have had a meeting with Yediyurappa lasting well into the early hours of Saturday and left the place unhappy.

The award of cabinet berths to the defectors has led to discontent within the party faithful.

The expansion has taken the strength of the cabinet to 28, with six vacancies. In the first expansion last August, 17 ministers were inducted.