The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Umesh V. Katti sworn in Cabinet Minister

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Umesh V. Katti sworn in Cabinet Minister

Special Correspondent

The Lingayat leader from Belgaum district resigned from the Assembly and the JD(S) a few days ago

There will be no more resignations of Ministers
Bellubbi to be accommodated in a corporation

— Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Welcome: Governor Rameshwar Thakur greeting Umesh Katti (right) at the Raj Bhavan in Bangalore on Wednesday as Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa looks on.

Bangalore: The former Minister and Lingayat leader from Belgaum district Umesh V. Katti, who had resigned from the membership of the Legislative Assembly and the Janata Dal (Secular), a few days ago to join the Bharatiya Janata Party, was on Wednesday sworn in Cabinet Minister.

Governor Rameshwar Thakur administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Katti in the presence of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at a function held at Raj Bhavan. Mr. Katti took the oath in the name of truth and loyalty. This is the third expansion of the Yeddyurappa cabinet, necessitated by the resignation of Horticulture Minister S.K. Bellubbi.

Several Ministers, including C.M. Udasi, V.S. Acharya, R. Ashok, Arvind Limbavali, Shobha Karandlaje, Lakshman Savadi and Basavaraj Bommai; Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister C.C. Patil and Prabhakar Kore, MP, a close friend of Mr. Katti and the Janata Dal (United) leader and MLC, M.P. Nadagouda were present.

A large number of people from Hukkeri, the Assembly constituency which Mr. Katti represented, attended the function and garlanded him after he was sworn-in Minister. President of the State unit of the BJP D.V. Sadananda Gowda was conspicuous by his absence.

The Chief Minister told presspersons that there would be no more resignations of Ministers from his cabinet, as the quota of Ministers to be inducted into the cabinet was complete.

He said that Mr. Bellubbi would be accommodated as chairman of a corporation.

When his attention was drawn to the criticism by Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council V.S. Ugrappa for not taking up relief measures in the districts affected by the drought and floods, the Chief Minister said that he had already directed the officers to take care of the welfare of the people.

Asked why only Rs.27 crore of the Rs. 115 crore released by the State Government for the relief measures had been spent, he said that the correct position could be assessed only after the officers of the Revenue and other departments submitted a report to him. The Chief Minister said that he would undertake a district-wise tour after September 5. He said that his Government would concentrate on development and would take steps from September 9, when his ministry completes 100 days .

Portfolio

Mr. Katti has been given the Horticulture and Prisons portfolios.

Mr. Belubbi has been made chairman of Mysore Sales International Ltd. (MSIL). An official communication in this regard was issued by the Chief Minister’s Office on Wednesday night.

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa left for the U.S. accompanied by some of his staff members. Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani, Minister for IT/BT, Excise and BWSSB Katta Subramanya Naidu and Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy accompanied the Chief Minister. He will return on September 5.

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