Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Thirteen MLAs were sworn in as ministers in Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s first Cabinet on Wednesday, reflecting a careful balance of regional, caste and factional considerations as the Congress seeks to manage the transition from the Siddaramaiah era while rewarding loyalists from both camps.
Shivakumar, a 64-year-old Vokkaliga leader who served as deputy to Siddaramaiah, took oath as the 25th Chief Minister of Karnataka at a low-key ceremony held at the Lok Bhawan. He succeeds Siddaramaiah, who resigned on May 28, as part of a pre-arranged power-sharing arrangement within the party, bringing to a close a prolonged leadership tussle between the Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar camps.
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The Cabinet, which can accommodate a maximum of 34 ministers, is a mix of seasoned administrators, organisational veterans and a few relatively younger faces, with representation from Dalits, Lingayats, Vokkaligas, Kurubas, minorities and tribal communities. The portfolios will be assigned to the newly sworn in MLAs soon.
Here’s a list of the new cabinet ministers:
Leading the pack is G Parameshwara, the Congress’s senior-most Dalit leader in Karnataka, who returned as Deputy Chief Minister. A former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president and a trusted organisational hand, the 74-year-old Koratagere MLA has played a key role in strengthening the party’s grassroots network over the years.
Another heavyweight is Satish Jarkiholi, a six-time MLA from Yamakanamaradi and a prominent leader from the Valmiki tribal community. Known for his influence in the politically significant Belagavi region, Jarkiholi has held several important portfolios in previous governments.
Among the prominent second-generation leaders is Priyank Kharge, son of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. The Chittapur MLA has emerged as one of the party’s most vocal faces nationally and is known for his sharp attacks on the BJP and RSS.
Former Assembly Speaker UT Khader’s induction gives the Cabinet a strong minority representation. A popular leader from coastal Karnataka, Khader has previously handled departments including health, food and civil supplies, housing and urban development.
Krishna Byre Gowda, regarded as one of the Congress’s key Vokkaliga leaders and policy-oriented politicians, also finds a place in the ministry. The Byatarayanapura MLA is known for his academic background and administrative experience.
Veteran Dalit leader KH Muniyappa, a seven-time MP from Kolar who returned to state politics in 2023, took oath and remains an influential Scheduled Caste face in the Congress. His daughter Roopakala is also a Congress legislator.
Ramalinga Reddy, a senior Bengaluru-based leader and former minister, is another key induction and brings decades of administrative experience. He has handled key departments including transport and home in previous governments.
A notable inclusion is Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. A doctor by profession and currently an MLC, Yathindra’s induction is seen as ensuring representation for the Siddaramaiah camp in the new power structure.
KJ George, among the Congress’s most experienced Bengaluru leaders, also joined the ministry. The Sarvagna Nagar MLA has previously held the home and energy portfolios and remains an influential figure in Bengaluru.
Eshwar Khandre, son of veteran leader Bheemanna Khandre and a prominent face from the Kalyana Karnataka region, took oath and continues to represent the interests of northern Karnataka in the Cabinet.
Doctor-turned-politician Sharan Prakash Patil and senior Lingayat leader MB Patil strengthen the Congress’s outreach to the influential Lingayat community with their induction into the Cabinet. While Sharan Prakash Patil is a prominent face in the Kalyana Karnataka region, MB Patil remains one of the party’s tallest Lingayat leaders and an important organisational figure.
Completing the list is Byrathi Suresh, a close Siddaramaiah associate and Kuruba leader from Bengaluru, whose inclusion further underlines the Congress’s effort to balance continuity with change.
Of the 13 MLAs, only Khader and Yathindra were not part of the previous Siddaramaiah Cabinet, while the rest served as Cabinet ministers.
The composition of Shivakumar’s first Cabinet indicates the Congress leadership’s attempt to maintain equilibrium between competing factions, regional aspirations and social coalitions while signalling stability after the carefully managed leadership transition in Karnataka.
– Ends
(with inputs from PTI)
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
