From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Aug 4: Allocation of portfolios to the 29 ministers inducted into his cabinet will be done in a day or two, said Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, who also announced that all the ministers will be assigned as in charge for different districts and have been asked to visit the respective districts entrusted to them from tomorrow or Thursday itself to review the flood situation as well as Covid pandemic control measures.
Addressing the media representatives after the full cabinet meeting held after the swearing in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Raj Bhavan, the Chief Minister said the Cabinet decided to reconstitute the Covid Task Force so as to manage the pandemic containment measures and vaccination drive and also make adequate preparations for the possible Covid Third Wave.
One of the key decision taken by the Cabinet is for the creation of a separate Secretariat for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes people as in the case of a separate and exclusive secretariat for the Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes, the Chief Minister said.
Answering questions about lack representation for 13 districts, Bommai said the newly inducted ministers will be given responsibility for looking after these districts as well.
To another questions on Yediyurappa-baiters like C P Yogeshwar being dropped and the dissidents against the former Chief Minister like Basavaraj Patil Yatnal and Aravind Bellad not being accommodated in the Cabinet, Bommai said the decisions taken by the party high command need to be followed.
“Ours is a national party and I have to consult the party’s national leaders. I will go by their advice. However, the constitution of the ministry and allocation of portfolios is my responsibility and it will be done in a couple of days,’’ he clarified.
Asked about the Cabinet not getting youngsters, the Chief Minister said the selection of ministers has to be done from among the legislators of the ruling party. “It is a mixture of youth and experience,’’ he said.
To a question on why the lone woman member Shashikala Jolle was accorded police convoy to rush to Raj Bhavan from the airport, the Chief Minister said he was not aware of special police escort given to her and that he knew she left from Delhi at 10 am and had to reach Raj Bhavan for the swearing in ceremony.
Replying to a pointed question on why Jolle, who is allegedly involved in a serious corruption charge was considered, Bommai said he has already sought details and learnt that it is only an accusation and not serious.
Bommai further appointed ministers for various districts to tackle the Covid-19 and flood situation in the state.
The appointed ministers are:
1) Govind Makthappa Karajol for Belagavi
2) K S Eshwarappa for Shivamogga
3) R Ashoka for Bengluru Rural
4) B Sreeramulu for Chitradurga
5) V Somanna for Raichur
6) Umesh Vishwanath Katti for Bagalkot
7) Angara S for Dakshina Kannada
8) J C Madhu Swamy for Tumakuru
9) Aaraga Jnanendra for Chikkamagaluru
10) Dr Ashwath Narayan C N for Ramanagara
11) Chandrakantagouda Channappagouda Patil for Gadag
12) Anand Singh for Bellary and Vijayanagar
13) Kota Srinivas Poojari for Kodagu
14) Prabhu Chauhan for Bidar
15) Murugesh Rudrappa Nirani for Kalaburagi
16) Arabail Hebbar Shivaram for Uttar Kannda
17) S T Somashekhar for Mysuru and Chamarajanagar
18) B C Patil for Haveri
19) B A Basavaraja (Byrati) for Davangere
20) Dr K Sudhakar for Chikkaballapur
21) K Gopalaiah for Hassan
22) Jolle Shashikala Annasaheb for Vijaypur
23) N. Nagaraju (M.T.B) for Begaluru Rural
24) Narayanagowda for Mandya
25) B C Nagesh for Yadgiri
26) V Sunil Kumar for Udupi
27) Achar Halappa Basappa for Koppal
28) Shankar B. Patil Munenakoppa for Dharwad
29) Munirathna for Kolar