BENGALURU: CM Basavaraj Bommai's strategic move not to give ministers charge of their home districts has not gone down well with a section of his cabinet colleagues who have expressed their unhappiness.
On Monday, Bommai had released the list of district in-charge ministers leaving out two senior ministers - R Ashoka and J C Madhuswamy - after both refused to take up the role if they are not given home districts to manage.
On Tuesday, some ministers openly expressed their displeasure at not being assigned their home districts even as Bommai tried to brush off such reports saying that he had spoken to all of them before and after carrying out the exercise. "They are united and there is no discontentment," he said.
CM: No minister has expressed unhappiness
Municipal administration minister MTB Nagaraju said that he was disappointed at not getting Bengaluru Rural district in-charge. "With my constituency located in Bengaluru Rural, and me wanting to contest the next election on a BJP ticket from the same Hoskote segment, it is quite disappointing that I cannot showcase my ability to bring development to the district. I have already aired my concerns to the CM but will abide by whatever decision is taken by the high command," he said.
Sports and youth affairs and planning and statistics minister K C Narayan Gowda called upon former CM BS Yediyurappa to impress upon him the need to reinstate him to as Mandya district minister.
Tourism minister Anand Singh is also reportedly sulking over not being given Vijayanagara in charge even as his supporters continued their protest seeking a change. Singh too intends to meet senior party functionaries.
Health minister K Sudhakar who has been given Bengaluru Rural district instead of his home district of Chikkaballapura too is reportedly upset. "Whatever has to be discussed and aired, will be done so in our internal party meetings. We are loyal foot soldiers of the BJP and will abide by the CM and central leadership decision," said Sudhakar.
Excise minister K Gopalaiah said that it the decision of the party high command and had nothing to do with the performance of individual ministers. "We have been given an opportunity to serve and we will do it to the best of our abilities," said Gopalaiah, who is now in-charge of Mandya and Hassan districts.
Bommai, however, tried to downplay the discontent rumours. "None of the ministers have expressed their unhappiness. They are united and there is no discontentment. It is our party's national policy to assign the district which is not the home district of the ministers," the CM said.
The only exception is B Sriramulu, who has been elected from Chitradurga district, but got Ballari, his home district. "I am happy with the decision,'' he said.
