Bengaluru, 7 Aug

Karnataka Home Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday said the allocation of portfolios among ministers was the prerogative of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and ruled out any confusion over the exercise, amid speculation about a possible reshuffle.

Kharge, speaking to reporters here, said the chief minister would take a decision after consulting the party high command on who should be entrusted with which responsibility to ensure the government functions effectively.

"There is no confusion of any kind inthis. The party would take the final call on this," he said. The minister said the party had only 33 ministerial positions for around 140 legislators, making it difficult to satisfy everyone while ensuring social justice and regional representation.

"Even after that, if the high command suddenly feels that Kharge should resign and work for the party, everyone will have to abide by it. I will also have to abide by it. I am committed to that. There is no going back on what the high command intends to do," he said.

Priyank's comments come in the wake of a section of ruling Congress legislators making known their disgruntlement public over their non-inclusion in the Shivakumar-led Cabinet, which was expanded on Monday, two months after his elevation to the top post.

Kharge said he would accept any responsibility assigned to him by the party. "If they tell me, 'Enough, now go and work for the party,' I have to do it. There is no choice. It applies to everyone. It applies to me as well," he said.

On discontent among some leaders over ministerial berths, Kharge said the party needed both the experience of seniorleaders and the enthusiasm of younger ones.

 On the delay in portfolio allocation ahead of the Assembly session, Kharge said the additional time would help ministers familiarise themselves with their departments and prepare to respond to issues in the House.

On reports of discontent among Kuruba legislators, particularly with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Kharge said the government had attempted to maintain representation while acknowledging demands from different communities.