Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Aug 8: Shortly after reports emerged that he had threatened to quit the cabinet over not being given his choice of portfolio, MTB Nagaraj on Sunday August 8 clarified that he had not demanded any specific portfolio and would continue in the ministry he has been alloted.
Speaking to media after meeting chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday to discuss the portfolio issue, he said, "I have not demanded any specific portfolio. I will continue with the same one which is allotted to me."
He further said, "I have handled a housing portfolio earlier. So I asked chief minister to give me a portfolio in which I can be close to public. But at present I have decided to continue in the same portfolio.
"I was the housing minister when I was in Congress. Later I resigned and joined BJP. So I was expecting that I would be given a higher portfolio. The chief minister knows which portfolios are better than housing ministry. I could have been given PWD, energy, transport, social welfare or rural development. But the chief minister has allocated me municipal administration and small scale industries," he said.
"Chief minister Bommai said that he is not sure whether the portfolio will be changed. He assured me that if I am disappointed by the portfolio he will speak to the top brasses and come to a decision in coming days. So I have agreed to his word."
However, Nagaraj also added that he would wait for instructions from the CM for another two or three days. "I am committed to my statement of taking a decision in another two or three days. I have spoken to the chief minister for more than 30 minutes. He has also given some suggestions. The disappointment is that only three out of the 17 migrant people, who were responsible for the formation of BJP government, have been given good portfolios."