Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday, 10 August said the allocation of portfolios to newly inducted ministers in his expanded cabinet is likely to be finalised by the end of the day, following consultations with the Congress high command in New Delhi. Shivakumar made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Malur, Kolar district.

Portfolio Discussions with Delhi Leadership

'I discussed the allocation of portfolios with the party's senior leaders in Delhi on Saturday evening. Perhaps, it will be resolved by today,' Shivakumar said. The Chief Minister had held talks with the party's senior leadership in New Delhi on Saturday evening, and indicated the matter was close to resolution. Several newly inducted ministers in the recently expanded Karnataka cabinet have been awaiting department assignments, making the portfolio distribution a closely watched development within the ruling party.

Sharp Attack on BJP-JD(S) Padayatra

Shivakumar also launched a pointed attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) padayatra against the proposed Bidadi Township project, dismissing it as politically motivated rather than a genuine farmers' movement. 'There are no farmers in the BJP-JD(S) padayatra being held against the Bidadi Township project. This is a protest being carried out for the political future of the boy in their family,' he said, referring to Nikhil Kumaraswamy, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda and son of Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy.

The Chief Minister, however, said he would not question the Opposition's democratic right to protest. He also alleged that participants had been brought in from outside the affected constituencies to swell the padayatra's numbers.

Bidadi Township: Congress Defends the Project

Defending the government's decision to proceed with the Bidadi Township project, Shivakumar argued it was rooted in a plan initiated by the previous administration. He highlighted a significant difference in compensation terms, stating that while the earlier government had offered ₹25 lakh per affected landowner, the current Congress government is providing compensation ranging from ₹2.5 crore to ₹3 crore.

Responding to former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's claim that the NICE and Bidadi Township projects were comparable, Shivakumar noted that the previous government had itself approved and signed both. 'They themselves signed both these projects. Who implemented the NICE project? They did it. But it has benefited Bengaluru. Bengaluru has survived today because the road was built,' he said. He added that while he was not calling the NICE project wrong, he alleged 'self-interest' was involved, promising to elaborate 'when the time comes.'

Political Backdrop

The BJP and JD(S) have stepped up their opposition to the Bidadi Township project, with senior leaders from both parties joining the padayatra and demanding its withdrawal. The Opposition contends the project would adversely affect farmers and landowners in the region. The ruling Congress, in contrast, maintains the project is designed to address Bengaluru's expanding urbanisation and housing needs while offering fair compensation to those displaced.

The Bidadi controversy has also sharpened the long-standing political rivalry between Shivakumar and the Deve Gowda family, bringing it into fresh public focus. With portfolio allocations pending and the Bidadi dispute intensifying, the Karnataka government faces a politically charged week ahead.