The allocation of portfolios to seven new Ministers and the reshuffle of departments of some others on Thursday by Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has not gone down well with a section of his cabinet colleagues as they are upset over the ministries allocated to them.
Yediyurappa, however, sought to brush it aside, saying some kind of displeasure was normal whenever portfolios were changed and he has convinced them.
Senior Minister J C Madhuswamy skipped an event of the Chief Minister in his home district Tumakuru, apparently upset over being divested of three key departments, while M T B Nagaraj openly said he does not want the Excise portfolio given to him.
A week after expanding his cabinet, Yediyurappa on Thursday allocated portfolios to the seven new inductees and also effected a reshuffle of the departments of some ministers.
The chief minister relieved Madhuswamy of Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Legislation and Minor Irrigation portfolios and allocated Medical Education, Kannada and Culture departments.
A few Congress-JD(S) rebels-turned BJP ministers including Nagaraj, K Gopalaiah, K C Narayana Gowda, met at Health Minister K Sudhakar's residence and said they will call on the Chief Minister to discuss portfolios allocated to them.
Yediyurappa said all the Ministers were at ease and there was no resentment.
"I have called them (upset Ministers) and spoken to them, everyone is satisfied...I have spoken to everyone personally," he said, cabinet expansion or portfolio allocation was not an easy job as everyone cannot be satisfied.
"Within the limitations, I have shared the responsibilities, let them work, after some days if they still find issues, let's consider changing then," he added.
The Chief Minister is said to have deputed Home minister Basavaraj Bommai and Revenue Minister R Ashok to convince the Ministers.
Ashoka said he has spoken to Gopalaiah and Nagaraj and things will be resolved soon, adding he and Bommai will talk to all of them once again.