Karnataka Cabinet: Injustices has been done over portfolio allocation, says Mallikarjun Kharge

Amid Congress's protest against inequity during Karnataka cabinet expansion on June 6, senior party leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday accepted that injustice has been done with several party members while allocating portfolios in the newly-sworn in Congress-JDS government.

Though several Congress leaders are not happy with the portfolio allocation procedure on Wednesday, they will stand united with the party, Kharge added.

"Even those who complain that they are upset on not getting the Home Ministry, say that we will stay loyal to the party and have no plans of leaving it," Kharge claimed days after CM HD Kumaraswamy distributed portfolios in the Karnataka Cabinet.

"But injustice has been done to us and it should be corrected," the senior Congress leader stated.

To save constitution & democracy, we have to sometimes make sacrifices. Some members are dissatisfied & the high command & their representatives will definitely talk to them about it. They are also aware of the reason behind the decision: Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/h2SWtOQwDt

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2018

Kharge further went on to add that MLAs have made compromises for the allocation of berths between the JDS and the Congress and it was a well-thought decision to save constitution and democracy.

"To save constitution and democracy, we have to sometimes make sacrifices. Some members are dissatisfied & the high command & their representatives will definitely talk to them about it. They are also aware of the reason behind the decision," he was quoted as saying.

Even those who complain that they are upset on not getting the Home Ministry,say that 'we will stay loyal to the party & have no plans of leaving it, but injustice has been done to us & it should be corrected':M Kharge, Congress on distribution of portfolios in #Karnataka cabinet pic.twitter.com/pgNfziZIno

— ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2018

Meanwhile, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met disgruntled Karnataka MLAs led by state party leader MB Patil in Delhi but the talks remained inconclusive.

Read | Karnataka cabinet: Rahul Gandhi meets disgruntled Karnataka MLAs, but no solution yet

Earlier in the day, supporters of Karnataka Congress leader Ramalinga Reddy staged a protest outside Bengaluru's Town Hall demanding ministerial berth for him in the state cabinet.

Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday expanded his cabinet, after intense bargaining for ministerial berths.

He distributed portfolios to 25 ministers in the state. Out of these, 14 members are from the Congress while nine from the JDS and one each from Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the nascent Karnataka Pragnavanta Janata Paksha.

He kept the key Finance ministry for himself, along with energy. Congress leader and Deputy CM G Parameswara were given the Home Ministry, along with Youth Empowerment. 

Kumaraswamy sparked controversies after he allocated the Higher Education portfolio to JD-S minister GT Devegowda, who has studied till Class 8. However, the chief minister on Saturday dismissed the question saying "What have I studied? I'm working as the chief minister".

Read | Karnataka Cabinet Expansion: Kumaraswamy ministry expanded, 25 members inducted

The Congress dropped several key members, who were a part of the previous Siddaramaiah government. MB Patil, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Ramalinga Reddy, R Roshan Baig, HK Patil, Tanvir Sait, Shamanur Sivashankarappa and Satish Jarkhiholi were among those ministers, who were upset for leaving them out.