Krishnappa is housing minister

BENGALURU: Newly inducted minister M Krishnappa has got the housing portfolio, which was with chief minister Siddaramaiah after MH Ambareesh was dropped from the cabinet three months ago.

Krishnappa, who represents Vijayanagar constituency in Bengaluru, was sworn in as minister on Monday. A third-time legislator and realtor, he was supposed to be inducted in June and was dropped at the last minute, leading to his supporters taking to the streets in protest.

The CM also elevated two ministers of state to cabinet rank: mines and geology minister Vinay R Kulkarni and animal husbandry minister A Manju.

There is now one vacancy in his 34-member cabinet.