The Karnataka government on Monday announced the list of district in-charge ministers. Speculation was rife ahead of the announcement that Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwathnaraya would be made the minister in-charge of Bengaluru. However, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa retained control of the city.

DCM Ashwathnarayana has been put in charge of Chikkaballapura and Ramanagara districts, both with a considerable population of Vokkaligas. Minister for Revenue, R Ashok, who is also a Vokkaliga has been put in charge of Bengaluru Rural and Mandya, both districts with a large Vokkaliga population. DCM Laxman Sangappa Savadi has been put in charge of Ballari and Koppal, while DCM Govind Karjol has been made the minster in-charge of Bagalakote and Kalaburgi.

Minister for Health, B Sriramulu had earlier told the media that he was aspiring to be made the minister in charge of Ballari. However, the high command has put him in charge of Raichur and Chitradurga. Sriramulu had in August, openly stated that he was unhappy about being allotted the Health portfolio.

The BJP has strategically chosen the district in charge ministers to meet caste combinations and also indicate that the leader appointed are well known in the regions allotted to them.

Here is a full list of district in-charge ministers:

BS Yediyurappa: Bengaluru Urban

Dr CN Ashwathnarayana: Ramanagara and Chikkaballpura

Laxman Sangappa Savadi: Ballari and Koppala

Govind Karjol: Bagalakote and Kalaburgi

KS Eshwarappa: Shivamogga and Davangere

R Ashoka: Bengaluru Rural and Mandya

Jagadish Shettar: Belagavi and Hubballi-Dharwad

B Sriramulu: Raichur and Chitradurga

Suresh Kumar: Chamarajanagar

V Somanna: Mysuru and Kodagu

CT Ravi: Chikkamagaluru

Basavaraj Bommai: Udupi and Haveri

Kota Srinivas Poojary: Mangaluru

JC Madhuswamy: Tumakuru and Hassan

Chandrakantgouda Patil: Vijayapura and Gadag

H Nagesh: Kolar

Prabhu Chavan: Bidar and Yadgir

Shashikala Jolle: Uttara Kannada