I happily accept Social Welfare dept portfolio: Sriramulu

Bengaluru: State Minister B Sriramulu who was divested of the Health and Family Welfare portfolio and allocated to Social Welfare department by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa Cabinet reshuffle amid the COVID-19 pandemic on Tuesday, October 13 said that he will the happily accept the ministry give to him.

The Health and Family Welfare portfolio has been allocated to Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar.

Significantly, Yediyurappa also took back the Backward Classes Welfare Department from Sriramulu, retaining it with himself, in the minor reshuffle. He entrusted Sriramulu with the key Social Welfare department, hitherto handled by Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol in addition to the Public Works department.

State Governor Vajubhai Vala issued an official notification reallocating the portfolios on the advice of the Chief Minister.

Sriramulu getting the social welfare department portfolio is seen as a politically significant move by the ruling BJP as he belongs to the Scheduled Tribe (Valmiki) community. However, the Chief Minister’s decision of taking back the Backward Classes Welfare Department, the additional portfolio that the Minister was holding, came as a surprise.

Days after the re-allocation of portfolios was declared, Sriramlu and Sudhakar met Yediyurappa at his official residence on Tuesday, October 13.

“I happily accept this portfolio and Our CM has suggested us to continue doing good work and we shall keep following his guidelines and do as he says,” said Sriramulu after meeting the CM.

Meanwhile, Sudhakar said, “Sriramulu is my senior and has more experience in this feild than me. Our government had planned to expand the cabinet but due to bypolls coming up expansion has been put on hold for the time being. Therefore CM decided to reshuffle the portfolios.”