Portfolio allocation before August 13, says Minister

It is most likely that portfolios will be allocated to new Ministers before the Monsoon Session, which is set to begin on August 13, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said in Belagavi on Tuesday.

“New Ministers will need to be given portfolios before the Session starts. The party high command will take appropriate decisions about such issues after consulting all leaders from the State unit, like the Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, party president B.K. Hariprasad and others,” he told reporters at his residence.

To a query, he said there was no inordinate delay in the allocation. “The Ministers start getting questions on the floor of the House a week after the session starts. They will have enough time to prepare,’’ he said.

“It is true that there was a discussion at the high command level about appointing Deputy Chief Ministers. It is also true that senior leaders considered my name and Minister M.B. Patil for these positions. But the party did not decide on the matter at this juncture. It will take an appropriate decision at the right time about such things,’’ he said. He clarified that he had not sought the post of Deputy Chief Minister.

He said he had no information about the party’s plans to change the portfolios of some of the Ministers. “They asked me to continue the Public Works portfolio, and I have done so. I never asked for a particular portfolio. It is up to the party to decide whom to allot what. We respect the decision of the party and continue working,’’ he said.

He said that there were absolutely no differences between him and Mr. Siddaramaiah. “We were together in the past, and we are the same now. We will remain so in future. Reports of a rift between us are fake. Whether Mr. Siddaramaiah is in power or not, he remains our leader. We have had a good relationship with him since the beginning. Several senior leaders have said that the next elections will be held under his leadership. I have said that too,” Mr. Jarkiholi said.