Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Dec 22: Eight new ministers all from Congress were inducted in the state cabinet on Saturday, December 22, as part of Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government's cabinet expansion plan.

The new ministers sworn into the cabinet by Governor Vajubhai Vala are Satish Jarkhiholi, Rahim Khan, Shivalli, MTB Nagaraj, Tukaram, MB Patil, Parmeshwar Nayak and RB Thimmapur. The coalition government has removed Municipal Administration Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and Forests Minister R Shankar from the cabinet.

Apart from this, 19 MLAs have been appointed as chairpersons of various corporations, and nine are given the post of parliamentary secretaries.

As per the December 5 coordination committee decision of Congress filling its 22 berths in the 34-member state ministry, Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah had sent names to chief minister HD Kumaraswamy for his approval.

The swearing in was held around 5.20 pm on Saturday, even though the Governor was given a short notice.

“The Janata Dal (Secular)'s share of seats in the cabinet is 12. The remaining two posts will be selected by party head HD Deve Gowda and we don’t have any problem in selecting them,” CM Kumaraswamy told reporters at Belagavi.

Sources state that the cabinet expansion and reshuffle is to ensure there is proper caste and regional representation from across the state in backdrop of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Protest for leaving out Ramalinga Reddy

While the induction ceremony was taking place, supporters of Congress MLA Ramalinga Reddy protested near Raj Bhavan as he was left out of the cabinet. Reddy had held important portfolios such as home and transport in the previous government and his followers demanded that he is inducted in the cabinet.