Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Jun 16: Chamundeshwari MLA, G T Deve Gowda, who had made public his unhappiness at the allotment of higher education ministry to him, is likely to get excise and Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) departments in its place.

Sources said that the excise department, which is currently with the chief minister, and APMC, which was earlier allotted to Bandeppa Kashempur, would be given to Deve Gowda. The chief minister will retain the higher education portfolio with himself, and for this purpose, he would be appointing retired vice chancellor of Karnataka State Open University, K S Rangappa, as adviser of this department, sources revealed.

When Siddaramaiah was the deputy chief minister, he was given excise and finance departments. With the allotment of excise department, Deve Gowda will get the satisfaction of having handled the department which was with his arch rival, Siddaramaiah, whom he had defeated in the recent assembly election. In all likelihood, order about these changes would be issued on Monday.

Reacting to the development, Deve Gowda stated that he would abide by any decision JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda and Kumaraswamy might take about him. He said he is capable of handling higher education department, but had expressed his willingness to handle a department that can do something useful for the farmers. He said that if he is given APMC department, he will work to see that farmers get fair price for their produce and they get suitable markets for what they grow.