BENGALURU: The portfolio allocation exercise seems to be getting tougher for CM BS Yediyurappa. On Tuesday, he said he would allocate portfolios to the seven newly inducted ministers on Wednesday or Thursday. On Monday, he had said the exercise would be complete by Tuesday or Wednesday.
The main reason for the delay is said to be lack of consensus on the CM’s plan to reshuffle some portfolios of senior ministers. It is being said he’s keen on shifting Jagadish Shettar from industries to revenue The CM’s close confidante Murugesh Nirani is expected to land the industries portfolio.
There are also talks about Shettar being made the party’s candidate for Belagavi Lok Sabha seat, which will go for bypoll soon. However, Shettar has ruled this out as a rumour, saying he would continue in state politics. “Let me put an end to these speculations. I am not going to contest from Belagavi. The issue is not even being discussed in the party. As far as changing my portfolio is concerned, I have no clue. It’s the CM’s prerogative,” Shettar told reporters on Tuesday.
Sources said the CM is also mulling swapping the portolios of home minister Basavaraj Bommai and water resources minister Ramesh Jarkiholi. Ramesh is likely to get energy (with the CM now) while Bommai will be given water resources. Sources said revenue minister R Ashoka is likely to get home or Bengaluru development. However, a close aide of Yediyurappa said there will be no swapping.