Will CM-designate Shivakumar continue to hold charge of Bengaluru Development portfolio?

Will D.K. Shivakumar continue to hold charge of Bengaluru Development portfolio as Chief Minister?

According to sources, while Mr. Shivakumar is keen to retain the portfolio, there has been strong pushback from Congress Ministers in the city. They argue Bengaluru Development needs a full-time Minister.

The names of senior Ministers from the city like Ramalinga Reddy, K.J. George, who had held the ministry earlier, and Krishna Byre Gowda are doing the rounds for the post. 

“His personal brand has been too tied up with Bengaluru over the past three years. He has initiated several big ticket projects, and it is to his credit that he saw through the restructuring of the city’s governance into multiple corporations and the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA). He sees the upcoming GBA elections when his efforts will bear fruit. So he will try his best to keep charge of Bengaluru himself,” said an activist, who has worked closely with Mr. Shivakumar over the last three years. 

However, a former Minister pointed out that as Chief Minister, Mr. Shivakumar would be the chairman of GBA and continue to drive the department, even if someone else holds charge.

“Over the past three years, Mr. Shivakumar has set the agenda for Bengaluru and even started key big ticket projects like tunnel roads, Peripheral Ring Road, etc. With Mr. Shivakumar as Chief Minister, there will be no deviation from this agenda possible. So whether he will hold charge of Bengaluru Development or not may not change much,” he said.