New ministers likely to get portfolios today

Bengaluru: H Nagesh and R Shankar, who took oath as ministers in the JDS-Congress coalition cabinet a few days ago are more like likely to get their portfolios today.

As per the sources, Shankar, who was dropped from the cabinet only to make a comeback months later after withdrawing support to the coalition, is likely to get municipal administration portfolio. Interestingly, Ramesh Jarkiholi held the ministry before he was dropped from the cabinet to make way for late C S Shivalli. Following Shivalli’s death, the ministry had been lying vacant and is likely to be given to Shankar.

Another ministry – primary and secondary education – that was left vacant after the lone BSP MLA N Mahesh quit from the cabinet, is likely to be given to Nagesh.

The duo was supposed to take charge of their ministries before Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy set out on this Grama Vastavya. However, they were forced to wait for CM’s return, as they were not able to take charge earlier.

Kumaraswamy in a bid to ensure the stability of the coalition government had decided to give away one of the two cabinet berths under the JDS quota to an independent MLA Mahesh.