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Three days after taking oath, portfolios allotted; Kota gets Muzarai, Ports and Inland Water Transport

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh Vamanjoor)
July 15, 2012

portfolio


Bangalore, July 15: Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar Sunday allotted portfolios to his ministers, three days after forming the cabinet, but the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party faced fresh trouble from those denied ministerial berths.

Shettar and BJP leaders have played safe by allotting the same portfolios to 21 ministers who held them in the D.V. Sadananda Gowda government which fell last Wednesday due to dissidence. The portfolio distribution was delayed because of hectic lobbying by the ministers, backed by the factions they belong to, for plum departments.

The issue was finally resolved late Saturday after Shettar met BJP chief Nitin Gadkari and party senior leaders L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley in New Delhi. However, there seemed to be no respite for either Shettar or BJP from the dissidence rocking the party since it came to power for the first time in the state in May 2008.

A group of around 20 party legislators, upset over denial of ministries, Saturday demanded that Shettar drop from the cabinet "tainted ministers" and also members of the legislative council.

"There are several ministers against whom cases have been registered. Why keep them in the cabinet when our leaders asked B.S. Yeddyurappa to quit when a case was filed against him," Belur Gopalakrishna, legislator from Shimoga, about 250km north of Bangalore, told reporters here.

The ministers fighting cases of corruption and illegal land deals include V. Somanna (housing), Murugesh Nirani (industries), C. P. Yogeshwar (forests) and C. T. Ravi (education). Somanna, Nirani and Yogeshwar were ministers in the Gowda cabinet also while Ravi has become the minister for the first time.

Two days back Governor H.R. Bhardwaj told reporters that BJP leaders had ignored his advice to keep out of the ministry legislators facing cases. Yeddyurappa, BJP's first chief minister in the state, was forced to quit last July following mining bribery charges. Gowda took over last August but bowed out last Wednesday following a campaign orchestrated by Yedyurappa.

Gopalakrishna and other upset legislators have been meeting under the leadership of former minister G. Karunakara Reddy in Bangalore for the last three days to decide on a strategy to pressure the BJP leadership to accept their demands.

Karunakara, brother of former minister and jailed mining baron G. Janardhana Reddy, told reporters that "all 21 of us will decide what we should do. We are still discussing. We will announce the decision July 18 or 19". The assembly session to pass the state budget for 2012-13 is to begin July 19, the day when the voting in the presidential polls will also take place.

There is speculation that these legislators could create problem for the Shettar government if the party does not placate them. The budget has to be passed by July 30. State BJP chief and one of the two new deputy chief ministers K. S. Eshwarappa said efforts were on to win over these legislators.

He indicated to reporters in Bellary, about 300 kms north of Bangalore, that these legislators will be offered chairmanship of government run corporations and boards. Shettar, like most of the chief ministers of Karnataka, retained finance and intelligence wing. He will also look after, among several other departments, minority welfare and information technology and biotechnology.

Eshwarappa will hold the revenue department, rural development and panchayat raj, which Shettar looked after in the Gowda ministry. Another deputy minister R. Ashoka will continue to preside over home and transport departments, the two portfolios he had in the Gowda cabinet. A Raj Bhavan communique said the governor had allotted the portfolios on the recommendation of the chief minister.

Following are the portfolios of Karnataka ministers

Jagadish Shettar, Chief Minister- Department of Cabinet Affairs, Department of Personnel andAdministrative Reforms.Department of Finance including Institutional Finance andexcluding Excise, Small Saving & Lotteries. Intelligence Wing from Home Department;All subjects pertaining to Bangalore City from Urban Development Department-excluding BWSSB. Information from Kannada and Culture, Information & Tourism Department. Mines and Geology from Commerce & Industries Department. Minority Welfare from Social Welfare Department.IT-BT from IT, BT and Science & Technology Department. Any otherDepartment not specifically allocated.

K.S.Eshwarappa, Deputy Chief Minister: Revenue Department Excluding Haj & Wakfs and Muzarai; Rural Development and Panchayat Raj including Rural Development Engineering Department and Rural Water Supply & Sanitaion.

R Ashoka, Deputy Chief Minister: Transport Department. Home Department excluding Intelligence Wing and Prisons.

Govind M. Karjol: Minor Irrigation from Water Resources Department. Kannada and Culture from Kannada and Culture,Information & Tourism Department.

R. Suresh Kumar: Law, Justice and Human Rights; Parliamentary Affairs; Legislature. Urban Development Department-7 City Corporations outside Bangalore; KUWS&DB, KUIDFC, Directorate of Town Planning; Directorate of Land Transport,Urban Development Authorities excluding subjects pertaining to Bangalore City but including BWSSB and excluding CMCs, TMCs, TPs and Local Bodies.

C.M.Udasi: Public Works Department excluding ports and Inland Water Transport Department.

Visweswara Hegde Kageri: Primary and Secondary Education from Education Department excluding Mass Education and Public Libraries.

Umesh Vishwanath Katti: Agriculture Department. Basavaraj Bommai- Major and medium irrigation from Water Respurces Department. Murugesh Nirani- Large and Medium- scale industries from Commerce and Industries Department.

V.Somanna- Housing Department

Shobha Karandlaje- Energy Department

B.N.Bachhegowda- Labour Department; Sericulture from Horticulture Department

M.P.Renukacharaya- Excise from Finance Department

C.P. Yogishwar- Forest from Forest, Ecology & Environment Department.

S.A. Ravindranath: Sugar from Commerce & Industries Department; Horiculture Department.

R.N. Belamagi- Mass Education and Public Libraries from Education Department; Small Savings and Lotteries from Finance Department.Animal Husbandry from Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Department

Balachandra Jarkiholi-Municipalities and Local Bodies (CMCs, TMCs and TPs) from Urban Development Department, Department of Public Enterprises

S.A.Ramdas- Medical Education from Heath & Family Welfare Department

Asnotikar Anand Vasant- Fisheries from Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department, Science and Technology from IT,BT S&T Department.

A.Narayanaswamy- Social Welfare Department excluding Minorities Welfare, Prisons from Home Department

R.Varthur Prakash- Textiles from Commerce & Industries Department

Sogudu Shivanna- Ecology and Environment Department, Planning Department, Statistics Department

C.T.Ravi- Higher Education from Education Department

D.N.Jeevaraj- Food and Civil Supplies Department

S.K.Bellubbi- Haj & Wakfs from revenue Department. Agriculture Marketing from co-operation Department. Aravind Limbavali- Health and Family Welfare Department excluding Medical Education

B.J.Puttaswamy- Co-operation Department excluding Agriculture Marketing

Anand Singh- Tourism From Kannada and Culture, Information and Tourism Department.

Kalakappa Gurushanthappa Bandi- Women and Child Development Department

Kota Srinivasa Poojary-Muzarai from Revenue Department. Ports and Inland Water Transport from Public Works

Appachu Ranjan- Youth Services and Sports Department

Sunil Vallyapure- Infrastructure Development Department

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News Network
February 1,2026

Golf.jpg

The coastal city of Mangaluru is gearing up for a major sporting milestone with the launch of a Golf Excellence Academy at the Pilikula Golf Club (PGC), scheduled to open on May 31. The initiative aims to position Mangaluru firmly on India’s national golfing map.

Speaking to reporters on Saturday during PGC’s first-ever floodlit Pro-Am tournament, club captain Manoj Kumar Shetty said the project is being funded by UAE-based philanthropist Michael D’Souza and is currently in the design phase. Experts from leading golf academies across the country are expected to visit Mangaluru to help shape the training programme and infrastructure.

The academy will train 20 young golfers at a time, with a long-term vision of producing national-level players from the region. Until now, PGC relied on an in-house coach, but the recent renovation of the course and the introduction of floodlights have opened new possibilities for expanding the sport.

Shetty said discussions are underway with two reputed coaching academies, whose heads are expected to visit PGC shortly. “A dormitory for trainers is already under construction. We are inviting academies to assess the facilities and suggest changes so we can build a truly world-class Golf Excellence Academy,” he said.

Professional golfer Aryan Roopa Anand noted that the floodlit course would be a game-changer for young players. “Students can now practise after school hours, even up to 8 or 9 pm, without compromising on academics,” he said.

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News Network
January 31,2026

Roy.jpg

Bengaluru: The shooting incident involving CJ Roy, founder of the Confident Group, has once again put the spotlight on a businessman whose life has swung between flamboyant global success and persistent controversy at home.

Though Roy’s business interests extended across continents, his roots lay firmly in Karnataka. An alumnus of Christ School in Bengaluru, he later moved to Tumakuru to pursue an engineering degree. Those familiar with his early years describe him as intensely ambitious, beginning his career as a salesman at a small electronics firm dealing in computers.

Roy’s entry into large-scale real estate came through the Crystal Group, where he worked closely with Latha Namboothiri and rose from manager to director. However, the launch of the Confident Group in 2005 was clouded by industry speculation. Insiders speak of a fallout involving alleged “benami” properties and claims of deception that ultimately led to his independent venture—an episode Roy spent years trying to distance himself from, according to associates.

A tale of two cities

Roy’s professional trajectory diverged sharply across geographies.

In Dubai, he built a reputation as a bold and efficient developer, completing massive luxury residential projects in record time—some reportedly within 11 months. His rapid project delivery and lavish lifestyle in the Emirates earned him admiration and visibility in the real estate sector.

In Bengaluru, however, his image remained far more fractured. Sources say Roy stayed away from the city for several years amid disputes over unpaid dues to vendors and suppliers. Several projects were allegedly stalled, with accusations of unfulfilled commitments to cement and steel suppliers continuing to follow him.

Roy’s return to Bengaluru’s business and social circles began around 2018, marked by a conscious attempt at rebranding. His appointment as Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic added diplomatic legitimacy, which he complemented with visible CSR initiatives, including ambulance donations and high-profile charity events.

Heavy police presence in Langford Town

Following the incident, police personnel from the Central division were deployed outside the Confident Group building in Langford Town, which also houses the Slovak Honorary Consulate in Bengaluru.

The otherwise busy premises near Hosur Road wore a deserted look on Friday, reflecting the shock and uncertainty that followed the tragedy.

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News Network
February 5,2026

Bengaluru: As air quality continues to worsen across several parts of the city, hospitals in Bengaluru are reporting a steady rise in patients suffering from respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), health officials and doctors said.

Data from the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust (SAST) shows that 3,891 patients received treatment for respiratory ailments between April and November 2024. The figure rose to 4,187 during the same period in 2025.

Private hospitals, too, are witnessing a 10–15 per cent year-on-year increase in such cases.

While doctors caution that the rise cannot be attributed solely to air pollution, a significant number of patients are non-smokers with no prior history of respiratory disease.

“Nearly 70 per cent of the patients we see are non-smokers with no previous respiratory issues. When other causes are ruled out, air pollution emerges as the most likely factor,” said Dr Manjunath PH, consultant interventional pulmonologist at a hospital in Kengeri.

Doctors noted that patient footfall spikes during the winter months and around Deepavali, when air quality typically worsens.

“There is a clear correlation between poor air quality and the rise in cases. People commonly present with persistent cough, breathlessness and irritation of the respiratory tract, indicating the impact of polluted air on their health,” said Dr Sheetal Chaurasia, consultant in pulmonary medicine at a private hospital in Whitefield.

Dr Chaurasia added that respiratory tract infections are also on the rise.

“Poor air quality leads to chronic airway inflammation, making the airways more vulnerable to infections. We are seeing an increase in both upper and lower respiratory tract infections,” she said.

Patients with pre-existing respiratory conditions remain the worst affected.

“For those already diagnosed with respiratory illnesses, deteriorating air quality significantly worsens the condition. Both the frequency and severity of attacks increase sharply,” said Dr Vandana P, a pulmonologist at a hospital on Bannerghatta Road.

Doctors also flagged a worrying trend of rising respiratory problems among younger adults and children.

To reduce exposure, they advised people to wear masks while travelling on two-wheelers or autos and ensure adequate ventilation at home to minimise indoor air pollution.

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