Ballari: The induction of two Congress legislators, Sandur MLA Eregar Tukaram and Hadagali MLA, PT Parameshwar Naik into the cabinet has set off speculation on who could be the next Ballari district in -charge minister.
There is reportedly much lobbying for the coveted post, although it’s not clear whether Water Resources Minister, D K Shivakumar, who is handling it currently, will be willing to give it up.
The high profile Ballari district in-charge minister’s post comes with the perks of handling the district’s iron ore mining and steel industry and the “mining funds” of roughly Rs 13,000 crore, which are lying with the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC) for revival of its mining ravaged areas and communities.
“Once the Supreme Court gives its nod for release of the SPV funds, there will be huge flow of funds into the district,” points out a top bureaucrat.
While several are eyeing the post as a result, it all depends on whether Mr Shivakumar will part with it as he was reluctant to give up his medical education portfolio to Mr Tukaram, notes a Congress leader.
Meanwhile, Hagaribommanahalli legislator Bhima Naik has made his opposition clear to Mr Parameshwar Naik being put in charge of Ballari although he had been given the responsibility for a couple of years in the past.
As Ballari district is dominated by the Valmiki-Nayaka community, some believe the post should go to Mr Tukaram, who is from a scheduled tribe.
They claim he stands a good chance as his mentor and former minister Santosh Lad is a close associate of former chief minister and senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah.
