Somanna ready to take on city

Somanna ready to take on city
By: B V Shiva Shankar Date: 2009-06-16 Place:Bangalore



The former urban development minister could well have his way and slip into his earlier portfolio. Being in charge of Bangalore will be a bonus

City strongman V Somanna expects to take over as urban development minister when chief minister B S Yeddyurappa reshuffles his cabinet on Thursday.


Who me? V Somanna

"Somanna is demanding the portfolio and the chief minister has hinted at granting it," said a source close to him.

Having already held the portfolio, Somanna has a firm grip on city administration and could also be made in charge of Bangalore city, the sources said.

Tightrope walk

Though the move will strengthen Yeddyurappa's hand in the wake of the BBMP polls due next month, the chief minister will have a tough job trying to fulfil the fellow Lingayat's demand.

To do so, he will have to displace ministers R Ashok and Katta Subramanya Naidu who are in charge of city affairs and Suresh Kumar who handles urban development. Already, there are reports of the ministers fuming.

Yeddyurappa will also have to get rid of a minister to accommodate Somanna.

While housing minister Krishniah Setty is in the line of fire, there are also hints that animal husbandry minister Revunaik Belamagi will make place for Somanna. Belamagi had unsuccessfully contested the parliamentary polls against Mallikarjuna Kharge in Gulbarga.

Sources do not rule out the possibility of dumping one of the four independents in the cabinet.

Jubilation

Somanna, who quit as a Congress MLA to join the BJP before the parliamentary polls ended last month, would not confirm the news.

But his camp was jubilant on Monday.

"Bangalore will prosper under the able administration of Somanna," said M B Adinarayana, a BJP leader and Somanna's aide. "The chief minister has rightly identified Somanna's ability and we hope he will be made city incharge."

Somanna, who represented Govindarajnagar in the Assembly, is expected to seek re-election from the same constituency.