Karnataka cabinet expanded with 8 Cong ministers

BENGALURU: Karnataka’s sevenmonth-old coalition government was expanded on Saturday with the induction of eight Congress legislators as cabinet ministers.

Governor Vajubhai R Vala administered the oath of office to the legislators at a simple ceremony at Raj Bhavan here. Chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of the ruling alliance partner Janata Dal-secular (JD-S) and deputy chief minister G Parameshwara of the Congress and others, including officials, were present on the occasion.

Those sworn-in are MB Patil, Satish Jarkiholi, RB Thimmapur, CS Shivalli, PT Parameshwar Naik, E Tukaram, Rahim Khan and MTB Nagaraj.

Khan from Bidar (North) Assembly segment in the state’s northern district took oath in English in the name of Allah, while the remaining seven lawmakers did in Kannada in the order of their seniority.

Congress’ state unit president Dinesh Gundu Rao told reporters earlier that Satish replaced his elder brother and Municipal Administration Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi and Nagaraj came in place of forests minister R Shankar. “The party’s high command dropped Ramesh and Shankar from the ministry,” Rao added.

Satish was elected from Yemakanmaradi in Belagavi district in the May 12 Assembly elections and Nagaraj from Hoskote in Bengaluru Rural district.

Ramesh represents Gokak segment in Belagavi district and Shankar was elected as Independent from Ranebennur in Haveri district but joined the Congress later. Patil from Babaleshwar in Vijayapura district was the water resources minister in the previous Congress government.

Timmapur is a member of the legislative council from Mudhol in Bagalkot district, while Shivalli was elected from Kundgol in Dharwad district, and Naik and Tukaram from Hadagalli and Sandur in Ballari district.

MB PATIL, SATISH JARKIHOLI, CS SHIVALLI, RB THIMMAPUR, PT PARAMESHWAR NAIK, E TUKARAM, RAHIM KHAN AND MTB NAGARAJ HAVE BEEN SWORN IN