Discontent continues in State Cabinet over portfolio allocation

Bengaluru: The week-long D.K. Shivakumar-led Congress Government is battling with simmering discontent among the Chief Minister’s Cabinet colleagues, with many of them unhappy over allotment of portfolios.

After Minister for Major and Minor Irrigation Ramalinga Reddy openly revolted against his portfolio, Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has expressed his dissatisfaction over the portfolio, citing that key departments such as BDA and BMRDA have been taken away from him.

Byregowda is said to be particularly upset over being given a portfolio that is not to his liking, even though he had sought CM Shivakumar to allow him to continue with Revenue portfolio, which he held under the Siddaramaiah Government.

An upset Byregowda, who has not assumed office citing clarity on the scope of the portfolio, flew to New Delhi yesterday evening  to meet the Congress top brass. He is said to have left to Delhi along with Shivajinagar  MLA Rizwan Arshad and party leader Ravi Boseraju, son of former Minister N.S. Boseraju, it is learnt.

CM, Dy.CM leave for Delhi

Meanwhile, it is learnt that CM Shivakumar left for Delhi this morning to take part in the NITI Aayog meeting to be held tomorrow. He is scheduled to meet Sonia Gandhi and other top leaders of AICC. He is also likely to discuss the rumblings in his Cabinet and seek the intervention of the party High Command. Deputy CM Dr. G. Parameshwar too is said to have left for Delhi this morning.