In second coming as 'honourable’ minister, KJ George to be Bengaluru boss

According to sources in the Congress government, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who considers KJ George as a close confidante and an able administrator, might accommodate the latter back in his cabinet.

 

This decision was taken by Siddaramaiah after the CID gave a clean chit to KJ George in the DySP MK Ganapathi suicide case, say sources.

 

George was sacked about a month ago following a wide protest by BJP and JDS after MK Ganapathi named him as one of the people responsible for driving him to suicide hours before he hanged himself in Madikeri.

 

Ganapathi was suffering from clinical depression and, in a sensational interview he gave to a local television channel hours before he died, he alleged that George, among others, was responsible for the mental torture he suffered.

 

Under pressure, George reluctantly announced his resignation then. And even then, Siddaramaiah insisted that he take back his resignation. Finally, the CM was forced to sack George following wide protests.

 

It is said that Siddaramaiah, who is holding the additional post of Bengaluru District Incharge will hand it over to George.

 

Meanwhile, George who has been away from media is said to have done several padayatras in Sarvajna Nagar, his constituency.

 

When asked about this development, George said, “I am innocent and the CID also have given me the clean chit. The decision to accommodate legislators into the cabinet is left with the chief minister as the same rule applies to me as well,” he said. 

 

Along with George, Siddaramaiah is likely to accommodate a Vokkaliga (Gowda) into cabinet to pacify the community. The Vokkaligas were upset that not a single member of their community was granted a berth in the recent cabinet reshuffle.

 

According to sources, CP Yogeshwar from Channapatna will be granted a cabinet berth. Siddaramaiah is said to have wanted a face from out of Bengaluru to counter the perception that there were too many city people in his cabinet, and that worked in Yogeshwar’s favour as well.

 

The portfolio for Yogeshwar is yet to be decided.