Karnataka Cabinet portfolios are allocated but discontent remains

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, along with Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwar, Ministers (LR) Ramalinga Reddy, Eshwar B. Khandre spoke to the media after a meeting with all other Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, Secretaries to the Government, all Charge Secretaries, other Director Generals of Police, senior forest officers, Chief Forest Officer and Chief Forest Officer Vidhan Souda. | Photo credit: Special arrangement

After hours of uncertainty, intense negotiations and discontent among some ministers, the portfolios for the newly sworn-in Karnataka cabinet ministers led by DK Shivakumar were allotted late on Thursday (June 5, 2026).

Mr. Shivakumar retained finance and let go of the most contentious and coveted portfolio of Bengaluru development, which he held as deputy chief minister. It was given to Krishna Byre Gowda. Chief minister and eight-time legislator Ramalinga Reddy, who was seeking the portfolio, has been allotted chief and central irrigation. Unhappy, he had threatened to quit earlier that day.

Priyank Kharge will be the new Home Minister who will also hold IT & BT and e-governance. Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara was given revenue and sports while Eshwar Khandre was allotted rural development and Panchayat Raj. Byrathi Suresh got Transport.

Yathindra Siddaramaiah, the first minister and son of former chief minister Siddaramaiah, will get urban development (except Bengaluru).

Satish Jharkiholi, KH Muniyappa and MB Patil will retain public works, food and civil supplies, consumer affairs and major and heavy industries, infrastructure development, respectively, which they held in the Siddaramaiah-led government. KJ George is getting tourism in addition to the energy he held earlier. Sharan Prakash Patil also retained his earlier portfolios of Medical Education and Skill Development. UT Khader, who resigned as speaker to join the cabinet, got health and family welfare.

The allocation of the Bengaluru development portfolio is likely to continue to be a contentious issue, especially ahead of the upcoming Bengaluru civic polls. Mr. Shivakumar held the portfolio as Deputy Chief Minister since the Congress government came to power in 2023.

It was learned that the trouble had been going on since late on Wednesday night after the new ministers were informally told about the portfolio they had been allocated. Mr Reddy, a senior Congress leader from Bengaluru, is learned to have expressed his disappointment after being told he would be given an “important portfolio” but that development in Bengaluru would go to Mr Gowda.

Sources close to him said Mr. Shivakumar promised him that the portfolio would be handed over to him, which did not happen, leading to his consternation.

Published – 05 Jun 2026 0:15 IST