After almost two weeks of formation of coalition Government of Congress-JD(S) led by Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy, first Cabinet expansion took place on Wednesday with twenty five members from both parties taking oath as Ministers.
Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala administered the oath of office to the new Ministers at Glass House in Rajbhavan. The JD(S)-Congress coalition Government inducted 25 legislators as Cabinet Ministers including 23 from the alliance partners and one BSP MlA and an Independent. Of the 23 from the alliance, 14 are from Congress and 9 from JD-S.
Even though there are many surprise includes in the Ministry which followed major dissent and rebellion by senior leaders of both the parties who were aspirants.
It also followed high voltage drama in many places across the State as the supporters of leaders who missed the birth created ruckus in many places. 15 from Congress and 10 members from JDs took oath leaving 7 posts vacant to douse the dissent and rebellion. This includes a lone BSP candidate N Mahesh who won from Kollegala constituency and Shankar an independent who won from Ranibennur.
Among the Congress Ministers were R.V. Deshpande, D.K. Shivakumar, K.J. George, Krishna Byre Gowda, Shiva Shankar Reddy, Ramesh Jarkiholi, Priyank Kharge, U.T. Abdul Khader, Zameer Ahmed Khan, Shivanand Patil, Venkat Ramanappa, Rajsekhar Basavaraj Patil, Puttaranga Shetty and Jayamala.
Among the JD-S Ministers are H.D. Revanna, Bandeppa Kashempur, G.T. Deve Gowda, D.C. Thammanna, M.C. Managuli, S.R. Srinivas, Venkatrao Nadegouda, C.S. Puttaraju and SR Mahesh.
Revanna is the second son of JD-S supremo H.D. Deve Gowda and elder brother of Kumarmaswamy. He represents Holenarsipur Assembly segment from Hassan district. Priyank is the son of Congress leader in the lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge from Chittapur in Kalaburgi district. Kannda actress and legislative council member Jayamala of the Congress is the lone woman Minister.
According to the post poll agreement between the coalition partners 22 Cabinet berths were given to the Congress and 12 Cabinet positions were given to the JD(S).