Only one berth for H-K region

Kalaburagi: Poor representation for the six districts of Hyderabad-Karnataka in the state cabinet headed by B.S. Yediyurappa has disappointed people of the region.

Only third time MLA from Aurad Prabhu Chavan has been given a place in the cabinet though the H-K region has 15 legislators belonging to the six districts.

What is more glaring is the denial of representation to Kalaburagi district- for the first time since independence, the district has no representation in the Cabinet. The highest representation Kalaburagi received was during the tenure of Mr S.M. Krishna as CM- as many as six Ministers, N Dharam Singh, Mallikarjun Kharge, Dr A B Maalakaraddi, Qamarul Islam, Baburao Chinchansur and Baburao Chavan found a place in his ministry.

This time, five BJP legislators were elected from the district including second -term MLAs -Dattatreya Patil Revoor and Subash Guttedar. Revoor is learnt to have missed the bus as more representation has already been given to the Lingayat community he belongs to.

Former Ministers Malikayya Guttedar and Baburao Chavan, who played a pivotal role in the defeat of veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge in the Lok Sabha polls, were also eying a berth in the Cabinet.

From Yadagir district, three term MLA from Surpur Raju Gowda was tipped for a cabinet berth. Similarly Devadurga MLA Shivangouda Naik was also in the reckoning for a berth. According to well placed sources, both missed the bus as the party wants to give a berth to disqualified Maski MLA Pratapgouda Patil, who has resigned from the Congress. All these three leaders belong to the Valmiki Naik community.

Already Mr B Sreeramulu, who belongs to the same community has been made a Minister. Disqualified Gokak MLA Ramesh Jarkiholi, who belongs to the Valmiki community and who played a significant role in the ouster of the Kumaraswamy government, would also have to be given his due if the Supreme Court takes a decision in his favour in the disqualification case.