Karnataka Cabinet: Who gets Bengaluru development?

All eyes would be on the Cabinet expansion set to take place today and more keenly the Bengaluru Development portfolio would be watched. The portfolio has gone to the Congress and the big question would be will the party hand it over to K J George who had stirred one controversy after the other when he held the berth in the Siddaramaiah government.

What has triggered off speculation about George losing out on the portfolio is the meeting between Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Infosys co-founder, Narayan Murthy. While Murthy did not suggest any names, he told the CM that he should keep the berth with him.

This suggestion would however not hold ground as the portfolio as per the arrangement with the JD(S) has gone to the Congress. The Congress on the other hand too is not keen in having repeats in the Cabinet. This effectively would mean that both Ramalinga Reddy and George who had held the portfolio before Siddaramaiah handed it over to them are out of the race.

JD(S) supremo, H D Deve Gowda during a meeting with Dr. G Parameshwar had suggested that he keep the portfolio. However the final call in this regard would be taken by Rahul Gandhi.

Bengaluru is an important portfolio and more often than not shapes the image of any government.

There are over 25 constituencies in Bengaluru and winning the city also shapes the prospect of any party in government formation. There are a host of issues that the minister in charge of the city would have to address. From traffic congestion to flooding to frothing of lakes-these are issues that have plagued for the city for long and successive governments have failed to address these concerns.