BENGALURU: As many as 90 people, including 77 MLAs and nine non-legislators, have been granted cabinet rank by Karnataka’s Siddaramaiah govt ever since it took office nine months ago. Sources said such a contingent is, perhaps, the largest ever in Karnataka governance history.
With Congress scoring a big win in the May 2023 polls leading to claims galore from different sections of the party, 77 of its 135 MLAs and four MLCs have been given the prestigious rank. These include ministers (including CM), chairpersons of boards and corporations, multiple advisors to CM and even chief whips of the governing party in both assembly and council.
Besides, nine members appointed advisors to CM with the rank and status as cabinet ministers are members of neither of the Houses. They include Congress victory mastermind Sunil Kanugolu, CM’s medical adviser Dr H Ravikumar, former IAS officer and ‘Brand Bengaluru’ expert BS Patil and Dr Aarthi Krishna, vice-president of the NRI Cell.
What does a cabinet-rank status entail? Apart from the inherent heft, a cabinet-rank person can hire as many as 14-member staff, get a car with a police escort and higher salary. However, department of personnel and administrative reforms officials suggest that none of the cabinet-rank legislators appointed to boards and corporations or as chief whips and political secretaries has higher salaries.
With Congress scoring a big win in the May 2023 polls leading to claims galore from different sections of the party, 77 of its 135 MLAs and four MLCs have been given the prestigious rank. These include ministers (including CM), chairpersons of boards and corporations, multiple advisors to CM and even chief whips of the governing party in both assembly and council.
Besides, nine members appointed advisors to CM with the rank and status as cabinet ministers are members of neither of the Houses. They include Congress victory mastermind Sunil Kanugolu, CM’s medical adviser Dr H Ravikumar, former IAS officer and ‘Brand Bengaluru’ expert BS Patil and Dr Aarthi Krishna, vice-president of the NRI Cell.
What does a cabinet-rank status entail? Apart from the inherent heft, a cabinet-rank person can hire as many as 14-member staff, get a car with a police escort and higher salary. However, department of personnel and administrative reforms officials suggest that none of the cabinet-rank legislators appointed to boards and corporations or as chief whips and political secretaries has higher salaries.
