Tuesday, August 9 2005 10:47 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries P G R Sindhia yesterday (Aug 8, 2005) was allocated the key Finance portfolio, held by sacked Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, by Chief Minister N Dharam Singh.

Sindhia would look after finance excluding excise, small savings, lottery and planning, according to a Raj Bhavan communique.

Sericulture Minister Chenigappa gets the Excise portfolio, which was also earlier held by Siddaramaiah, Janata Dal Secular (JDS) rebel leader who was sacked as Deputy Chief Minister following his strained relations with the Party Supremo H D Devegowda,on last Friday.

Basavaraj Horatti, who now holds Small Savings department, has been given Rural Development and Panchayatraj.

H C Mahadevappa, loyalist of Siddaramaiah, who was also dropped from the Ministry, had held the Rural Development and Panchayatraj portfolio earlier.

Minister for Sugar Amaregouda Bayappur gets the additional portfolio of textiles, held by Satish Jharkhihole, another loyalist of Siddaramaiah who faced the axe.

Revenue Minister and senior JDS leader M P Prakash replaced Siddaramaiah as Deputy Chief Minister but he continues to hold the portfolios he had with him before.