Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday carried out a reallocation of portfolios of ministers to address the resentment among some ministers following a cabinet expansion last week.
Minister Anand Singh has considered the withdrawal of Tourism and Environment. According to sources, Anand Singh has been given the responsibility of Hajj, Waqf and Infrastructure Development Department. The order will be officially issued in the evening.
Minister Anand Singh said “I have no regrets. As mentioned earlier, I work as a legislator.”
Mr Singh had expressed satisfaction last week with being allocated the tourism and environment portfolios despite the forest portfolio being taken away from him.
With former law minister J C Madhuswamy reportedly unhappy over being given the Medical Education portfolio, Yediyurappa Monday initially allocated the departments of Tourism, Ecology and Environment to the former JD(U) leader. Later in the day, he allocated the Minor Irrigation Ministry to Madhuswamy and gave the Tourism, Ecology and Environment portfolios to newly inducted minister C P Yogeshwara.
Madhuswamy on Monday told the media that he is likely to resign as a minister after hoisting the national flag for Republic Day in Tumkur district where he is the minister in-charge. “I am not a person who will hang around when my self-esteem is under attack. I will wait till Tuesday morning and decide my course of action,” Madhuswamy said.
The threat of resignation by Madhuswamy is also being seen as an effort to retain his hold over Tumkur region when the Chief Minister appoints new ministers-in-charge for districts.