Undivided dist misses cabinet berth in first phase

Hubballi: The undivided Dharwad district, which comprises Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri districts, has not been given any representation in the first phase of cabinet in the newly elected chief minister DK Shivakumar’s govt.

The most prominent and senior politician of north Karnataka, H K Patil, who was law and tourism minister during Siddaramaiah’s govt, was denied a ministerial berth in the first phase. So is the case with Santosh Lad, who was seen in Siddaramaiah’s camp and also played a vital role in bringing in some reformation in the labour acts and shouldered the responsibilities to help people in distress during emergency situations outside the state like flood, war-hit, and other emergency situations.

A senior Congress functionary from Gadag rued over Patil not getting the berth. “He served the party in different roles for the past several decades, and he always remained loyal to the party high command. He has represented Gadag assembly constituency since 2013. Prior to that, he represented West Graduates’ constituency from 1984 to 2008,” the functionary added.

No representation from Dharwad, Gadag and Haveri districts has left the party workers disappointed. They feel the party high command should have given preference to north Karnataka region in picking the ministers.

Huda chairman and former KPCC general secretary Shakir Sanadi said they expected seniors like Patil in the first list of ministers. "But we are still hopeful that the party will consider him for a good position in the party in the days to come,” he said.

Sources in the party said Patil is likely to be made the Speaker considering his experience and seniority.

There is also confusion prevailing in Dharwad and Haveri as Hangal MLA Srinivas Mane, four-time MLA G S Patil from Ron and Prasad Abbayya, MLA from Hubballi-Dharwad East constituency, are lobbying hard from undivided Dharwad district to get the ministerial berth.

If the party decides to look for young and new faces, then there are chances of Mane, Abbayya and G S Patil getting the berth, sources said.