Covid-19 minister K Sudhakar gets health too; welfare for B Sriramulu

BENGALURU: With confirmed coronavirus cases in Karnataka crossing 7.1 lakh and the toll set to cross 10,000, chief minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday shifted the health portfolio from B Sriramulu to K Sudhakar, who has been saddled with Covid-19 affairs and medical education portfolio, to sharpen its response to the Covid fight.
The Ballari strongman has been given the charge of social welfare department, which was vested with deputy chief minister Govind Karjol.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, lack of coordination between ministers had led to a series of setbacks for Karnataka’s fight against Covid-19. Initially, Sriramulu and Sudhakar were asked to co-ordinate the state’s strategies and the government formed a ministerial task force under the health minister, but the move did not yield results. By March-end, Sudhakar was given responsibility of Covid-19 affairs.
Sources said the minor reshuffle of departments follows a rap from the Centre over Karnataka’s lack of efforts in controlling the spiralling of Covid cases. Karjol confirmed that the CM discussed the portfolio rejig with him and an order to this effect will be issued by Monday.
Sudhakar will do justice to both depts: DyCM
With the key ministry snatched from him, Sriramulu was handed the social welfare portfolio, one of the largest departments. Sources said this is seen as a move to placate the influential Valmiki leader.
Deputy CM Karjol said Sudhakar has shown he is a capable leader and will do justice to health and medical education departments in times of the raging pandemic.
“I agreed to part with the social welfare department, which was an additional portfolio for me. Since Sriramulu handles the backwardclasses department, the addition fits in well,” Karjol added.