Bengaluru, May 20: “Well begun is half done” is a time-tested saying.
Going by the composition of the Siddaramaiah-led Congress ministry – in terms of caste matrix and regional needs – the Congress has started well.
There 7 ministers – including Siddaramaiah and D. K. Shivakumar – from old Mysore region, with three from Bangalore city – K.J. George, Ramalinga Reddy and Zameer Ahmed Khan.
The other two are Dr G. Parameshwar from Tumkur, K.H. Muniyappa from Bangalore Rural.
There are two ministers from Mumbai-Karnataka region – Satish Jharkiholi from Belgaum and M.B.Patil from Bijapur. One is from Hyderabad-Karnataka region – Priyank Kharge (Gulbarga).
Similarly, the Congress party had taken care of the sensitive caste considerations also.
There are one each from Christian and Muslim minorities – K.J.George and Zameer Ahmed, one from ST (Valmiki) community and three from SC – 2 SC right and one SC left.
While Dr G. Parameshwar and Priyank Kharge are from SC right, K.H. Muniyappa is from SC Left.
There is one from Reddy community – Ramalinga Reddy. There is one from the Valmiki community – Satish Jharkiholi and one from Lingayath – M.B.Patil.
While Siddaramaiah belongs to Kuruba community (BC), D.K. Shivakumar is a Vokkaliga.
Karnataka being a bicameral legislature, the strength of the ministry will have to one plus 33, total 34.
There is still provision to induct 24 ministers. Congress plans to expand the cabinet in the next coming days.
EOM
