The Congress government in Karnataka expanded its cabinet on Sunday with 24 MLAs sworn-in to the cabinet filling all the posts. Among those who got inducted into the cabinet include sons of two former chief ministers — R Gundu Rao’s son Dinesh Gundu Rao and S Bangarappa’s son Madhu Bangarappa. Laxmi Hebbalkar is the only woman legislator who has been sworn-in to the Karnataka cabinet among the 24 MLAs.
Here is a brief profile of all the legislators who took the oath of the office today.
HK Patil: MLA from Gadag constituency, Patil is a staunch Congressman and a seasoned politician who has held the portfolios of textile, water resources, agriculture, law and parliamentary affairs as well as rural development and panchayat raj.
Krishna Byre Gowda: The five-time MLA was a minister for rural development and panchayat raj and also held the portfolio of agriculture, law and parliamentary affairs. He holds an MA in international affairs from the School of International Service at American University in Washington DC.
N Cheluvarayaswamy: A four-time MLA from Nagamangala who switched sides with Congress from JD(S). He was a Lok Sabha member in 2009 but resigned in 2013 to contest in the Assembly poll on a JD(S) ticket from his favourite seat Nagamangala.
K Venkatesh: A five-time MLA from Periyapatna. The 75-year-old Congress MLA was previously with the Janata Dal. He later joined the Congress and became an MLA in 2013. In 2018, he lost to K Mahadeva of the JD(S). He bounced back by winning the recent 2023 election.
H C Mahadevappa: The 70-year-old MLA from T Narasipur was previously with the JD(S) and switched over to the Congress. An MBBS doctor from JJM Medical College, he was the Public Works Minister in the previous Siddaramaiah government.
Eshwar Khandre: The Congress working president comes from a political family. His father Bheemanna Khandre was also a minister in the Karnataka government. The 61-year-old leader is an engineering graduate and also a four-time MLA from Bhalki in Bidar constituency.
Dinesh Gundu Rao: Son of former Chief Minister late R Gundu Rao, he continued his winning streak without any break for the sixth time in 2023. A BE from BMS College, he was the food and civil supplies minister from 2015 to 2016.
Kyathasandra N Rajanna: The 72-year-old leader from the Scheduled Tribe community. He is an advocate and agriculturist. He was elected as MLA once from Madhugiri Assembly constituency in 2013.
Sharanabasappa Darshanapur: Son of former minister Bapugouda Darshanapur, he is a five-time MLA from Shahapur constituency in Yadgir district. The 62-year-old leader is a BE graduate in civil engineering.
Shivanand Patil: A four-time MLA from Basavana Bagewadi, was minister for health and family welfare from 2018 to 2019 in the coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy.
Ramappa Balappa Timmapur: A three-time MLA from Mudhol. In 2023, he won by defeating sitting minister Govind Karjol, who was a five-time MLA from the same constituency. Timmapur was the minister for sugar, port and inland transport of Karnataka.
S S Mallikarjun: Son of veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Mallikarjun is an educationist who won the election from Davangere North. He is also the chairman of the prestigious SS Institute of Medical Science and Research Centre, Davangere.
Shivaraj Sangappa Tangadagi: The 52-year-old MLA is a three-time MLA from Kanakagiri constituency in Koppal district.
Sharanaprakash Patil: A doctor by profession and a four-time MLA from Sedam constituency in Kalaburagi district.
Mankal S Vaidya: Elected twice from Bhatkal-Honnavar constituency in the coastal district of Uttara Kannada.
Laxmi Hebbalkar: Only woman legislator to be sworn-in Hebbalkar is a 48-year-old MLA from Belagavi rural. She won from the constituency for the second time and is considered to be close to deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar.
Rahim Khan: The 57-year-old MLA from Bidar North constituency, was the youth empowerment and sports minister in the coalition government headed by H D Kumaraswamy.
D Sudhakar: Former minister for social welfare, Sudhakar is a three-time MLA from Hiriyur in Chitradurga district
Santosh Lad: An MLA from Kalghatgi constituency in Dharwad district. The 48-year-old holds a BCom and comes from a business family.
N S Boseraju: Neither an MLA or an MLA, the Congress national secretary is considered to be close to the Congress high command and his candidature was finalised at the last minute after much deliberation.
Suresha B S: A two-time MLA who made it to the Karnataka cabinet.
Madhu Bangarappa: Son of former Chief Minister S Bangarappa, he was previously associated with JD(S). He won the recently concluded assembly polls by defeating his brother Kumar Bangarappa of the BJP from Soraba assembly constituency in Shivamogga district.
M C Sudhakar: The 54-year-old legislator is an MLA from Chintamani Assembly constituency in Chikkaballapura district. He is a dental surgeon.
B Nagendra: A Congress MLA from Ballari constituency. He is a 'giant killer' who defeated former minister B Sriramulu in the recently concluded Assembly election from Ballari Rural constituency.