Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 3: Water resources minister, Ramesh Jarkioli, has been given charge of his home district, Belagavi, after a long gap.

After the expansion of the cabinet, some district in-charge ministers were shuffled on April 9. The fact that industries minister, Jagadish Shettar, was in-charge of Belagavi district in spite of the fact that there are four minsters, Laxman Savadi, Shashikala Jolle, Srimant Pati and Ramesh Jarkiholi from the district, had caused some heartburn. The sudden change in guard and making Jarkiholi in-charge for Belagavi is a surprising development, which naturally has made Laxman Savadi, deputy chief minister, unhappy.

J C Madhuswamy, law and parliamentary affairs minister, who was holding additional charge of Hassan district, has been divested of this responsibility. K Gopalaiah has been made in-charge minister for Hassan.

Jarkiholi said he will work for the overall development of the district and move on the lines of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and others. Madhuswamy said he cannot claim to have concentrated on Hassan development, even though he worked hard for that. He said he was not aware that he had been relieved of that responsibility.

Atjhani MLA, Mahesh Kumathalli, who was deprived of ministerial berth after beinng promised one, has, after a long wait, been made chairman of Slum Clearance Board. This post attracts facilities of a cabinet minister. Kumathalli said he is happy and that he does not nurse any grouse for not being made a minister. He said he will also concentrate on building the party.