Bengaluru: The portfolio allocation is another tough challenge for the Head of the Bakavaraj Bommai Minister with the ministers who have just sworn to lobby hard for the main post.
Bommai said he would finish it on Friday, but the source felt he could take one or two more days, considering all 29 ministers were competing to the coveted department.
With BJP leadership who has a final say, even CM is reportedly trying to convince party officials to allow him to maintain its choice portfolio.
However, CM said it would be a prerogative for distributing a portfolio.
“The high command has given me free hands and I will decide on the allocation of the ministry.
There are no ministers who ask for a particular post and there is no pressure on me.
I will announce it on Friday,” he said.
Bommai actually sulked during the BS Yediyurappa regime because he was not given the ministry of his favorite water resources.
While he had to settle for home at first, the way he rose to stand out in the government dramatically.
In recognition of its orders for various subjects, Yediyurappa allocated an additional law portfolio and parliament in addition to ratifying it to represent Karnataka on the GST Board.
However, the water resource portfolio remains difficult to understand until the end of Yediyurappa’s term.
With the experience of handling it for five years from 2008, he now wants to defend the Ministry of Irrigation.
He also wants to keep financing because it has become a convention that the portfolio is attached to the main minister.
Energy is another significant portfolio of ministers targeting, but CM also wants to defend it.
Ministry of Irrigation: At least half a dozen ministers want the irrigation portfolio and those who in the race including KS Esharappa, which is the Minister of Irrigation in JD (s) -BJP Coalition Government in 2006-07, CN Ashoka, R Ashoka, R Govind Karjol and JC Madhuswamy.
The most desirable for most of them: Bengaluru’s development together with urban development, industry, the Ministry of Public Works, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, income and health are among other portfolios that are passed by ministers.
While Ashoka and V Somanna competed for Bengaluru’s development, Ashwath Narayan had emerged as a third competitor.
Somanna, who is a minister of housing in the Yediyurappa cabinet, is very looking for a better portfolio that is in accordance with its seniority.
“I hope that CM will take advantage of my best experience.
I will provide if the portfolio is like income and urban development, if it is not the construction of Bengaluru, given to me,” Somanna said.
The race is between Murugesh Nirani and Eshwarappa for the industry, while Umesh Katti also aspires for it.
Sources say senior ministers tend to maintain the portfolio they hold in the Yediyurappa cabinet.
Leadership is also looking to allocate a significant portfolio to younger ministers, they add.