Sudhakar is new Karnataka Health Minister, Sriramulu given Social Welfare in minor reshuffle

 Karnataka Minister B Sriramulu was divested of Health and Family Welfare portfolio by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Monday in a Cabinet reshuffle amid COVID-19 pandemic.

portfolio was allocated to Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar.Significantly, Yediyurappa also took back Backward Classes Welfare department from Sriramulu, retaining it with himself, in mir reshuffle.

He entrusted Sriramulu with key Social Welfare department, hirto handled by Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol in addition to Public Works department.Karnataka Goverr Vajubhai Vala issued an official tification reallocating portfolios on advice of Chief Minister.

Sudhakar is w in-charge of overall Health related affairs in state, which has been witnessing a spurt in COVID-19 cases. Chief Minister is said to have taken decision with an intention of one minister handling related portfolios - Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education - amid pandemic, official sources said.

Yediyurappa picked Sudhakar as he is a Medical doctor by qualification and has been handling COVID-19 related responsibilities, y said.

Also, in early weeks of COVID manment, government had drawn criticism from some sections over its strategy and handling with Sriramulu and Sudhakar seen "competing" with each or to lead from front, some times creating confusion.

opposition has levelled allegations of corruption in procurement of COVID-19 equipment, but BJP government has rejected m. Speaking to reporters earlier on Monday, Sudhakar said Chief Minister has told him to take up responsibility of health department along with Medical Education and to work effectively in fight against coronavirus and to provide best health facility for 6.5 crore people in state.

"I thank him (CM) for trust he has shown in me and will live up to his expectation," Minister said, adding that he would focus on bringing COVID-19 under control and work towards decreasing fatality rate in state.

ting that health and medical education departments were interlinked, Sudhakar said, for various reasons y were seperated in 2000, to make room for more Ministers n, and Chief Minister has w rectified that 'mistake'. He replied in negative to a question wher changing health minister amid corruption allegations in procurement of Covid-19 equipment would send out a wrong mess.

I have said in assembly that re is corruption. However, keeping in mind media queries and Opposition claims, I will study once again," he said.

Sudhakar said he has spoken to Sriramulu, who held health portfolio all se days, after getting to kw about reallocation and that latter was t sulking.

Social welfare is a big department with an outlay of over Rs 25,000 crore and he (Sriramulu) had desired for department in past,he ted. Sriramulu getting social welfare department portfolio is seen as a politically-significant move by ruling BJP as he belongs to Scheduled Tribe (Valmiki) community.

However, Chief Minister taking back Backward Classes Welfare department, additional portfolio that Sriramulu was holding, has come as a surprise. As re-allocation of portfolios were declared, Sriramlu met Yediyurappa at his official residence.

Deputy Chief Minister Karjol, who also met Yediyurappa said, Social Welfare Department was an additional responsibility he was handling along with PWD, and Chief Minister has complete authority to give it to any one.

He also welcomed move to entrust responsibilities of Health and Medical Education departments to Sudhakar and said it will be helpful for better manment of pandemic.