Karnataka cabinet expansion: Krishnappa inducted as minister, two promoted to cabinet rank

Nearly three months after a major rejig, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday expanded his Cabinet by inducting M Krishnappa into his Council of Ministers and promoting two ministers of state - A Manju and Vinay Kulkarni -to the Cabinet rank.

Krishnappa was sworn in by Governor Vajubhai Vala, who administered the oath of office to him at the Raj Bhavan. Manju and Kulkarni, who were ministers of state for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture and Mines and Geology respectively, have been given the ranks of Cabinet ministers.

They represent Arkalgud and Dharwad constituencies respectively. The expansion of the Siddaramaiah government comes nearly three months after a major rejig, which had triggered discontent over dropping of some ministers.

The induction of Krishnappa is seen by political observers as a move by Siddaramaiah, heading the three-year old Congress government, to assuage the ruffled sentiments of the Vokkaliga community who have been expressing their ire for dropping their leaders—actor turned politician M H Ambareesh and Kimmane Ratnakar in June this year.

The Chief Minister, in a major revamp, had sacked 14 ministers and inducted 13 members into his Council of Ministers on June 20, which had led to discontent with Ambareesh resigning as MLA.