Cracks already in Shivakumar's Karnataka team: New CM's cabinet hit by resignation, portfolio revolt within 48 hours

SIgns of unrest feature surfaced in young chief government minister DK Shivakumar's locker in mysore, with another senior Congress leader publicly expressing dissatisfaction over portfolio allocation just hours after Ramalinga Reddy resigned as minister.KH Muniyappa, who was assigned the food and civil supplies portfolio, urged the party leadership to revisit the allocation. “Seniority has not been maintained. Ramalinga Reddy has won eight times. I have won eight times. There are others who have won seven, six and five times. All this has to be looked at in a balanced manner,” news agency PTI quoted him as saying.‘Had requested Rahul Gandhi’The senior leader revealed that he had earlier conveyed his preference for departments that would allow him to work more directly for public welfare, particularly Social Welfare, Agriculture or Irrigation."When Rahul Gandhi came recently, I had made a request. I wanted Social Welfare so that I could serve people. I wanted Agriculture to serve farmers. Irrigation is also a department through which farmers can be served. Such portfolios should be considered," he said.Appealing to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Muniyappa said, “All children should be treated equally, and seniority must be maintained,” he said.Muniyappa said the allocation should be reviewed not only on the basis of seniority but also with an eye on the party's prospects in the next Assembly election."I am requesting that what has been allotted should be changed and that portfolios which enable public service and are more useful should be given," he said, noting his long “50-year association with politics”.Shivakumar plays down rowThe controversy intensified after Reddy resigned from the cabinet just two days after taking the oath. The eight-time MLA had been assigned the Major and Medium Irrigation portfolio, though multiple reports indicated he had been seeking the Bengaluru development portfolio.Seeking to calm the situation, Shivakumar described Reddy as one of his closest associates and insisted the matter would be resolved."Nothing to worry. He is a great friend. We are the closest friends among the Cabinet. We will sort out the problem," news agency ANI quoted the chief minister as saying."Ramalinga Reddy is my colleague and our senior leader. He said that he cannot go to the village and work. He said that I should give him some other ministerial post. I will talk to Ramalinga Reddy and make everything right," he said.Congress leaders express optimismState home minister Priyank Kharge said discussions among senior leaders would help resolve the dispute."That is something the seniors will discuss and resolve. It is just a matter of time," he told ANI.Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah also expressed confidence that the party leadership would persuade the dissatisfied leaders."Whenever there is dissatisfaction, I am sure the Congress party leaders will talk to them, and they will try to persuade them. Both Muniyappa and Ramalinga Reddy have been staunch Congress loyalists. I am sure they will listen to the leaders, and this should be resolved amicably," ANI quoted him as saying.He added that while many legislators aspire to become ministers, the final decision rests with the party high command.Reddy says he has not quit CongressAddressing a press conference, Reddy clarified that his resignation was confined to his ministerial role and did not extend to his party membership."I am still in the Congress party; I have not resigned from the party. I have been a member of the Congress party for the past 53 years. I have handled several responsibilities within the party," he said while displaying his resignation letter.He further claimed that he had never sought a ministerial position. "I have never asked anyone to give me a ministerial position," he said.In the new cabinetThe dispute comes less than 48 hours after Shivakumar was sworn in as Karnataka's 34th chief minister, alongside deputy chief minister G Parameshwara.The cabinet portfolio allocation, announced late Thursday, included senior leaders such as Muniyappa, K J George, M B Patil, Ramalinga Reddy, Satish Jarkiholi, Krishna Byre Gowda, Priyank Kharge, U T Khader, Eshwara Khandre, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Byrathi Suresh and Sharan Prakash Patil.