<p>At last, minister Satish Jarkiholi has managed to rid off the excise portfolio. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made him the small scale industries (SSI) minister, while keeping the excise portfolio with himself. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Small scale industries portfolio is one among the many portfolios held by Siddaramaiah. The chief minister sent a letter requesting Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to give his assent to the changes in the portfolio. <br /><br />Till late in the evening, there was no communique from Raj Bhavan as to whether the governor has approved the changes. <br /><br />Jarkiholi had gone to the extent of resigning as excise minister. The reasons were many. He had claimed that he cannot mingle with people as excise minister. <br />Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had pacified and assured Jarkiholi that he would be relieved of the portfolio at a suitable time. <br /><br />Performance review time<br /><br />Surprisingly, the swapping of the portfolios comes at a time when Siddaramaiah has <br />already begun the review of performance of all the departments to finalise the budget to be presented on March 13. <br /><br />He has been holding a series of meetings with bureaucrats and ministers to get feedback on various key departments’ performance. <br /><br />The excise department is one among the four high revenue generating departments in the State. <br /><br />Jarkiholi had met Siddaramaiah on Thursday as well as on Friday morning. Finally, his wish has been granted. But it is not clear whether he wanted this particular portfolio. <br />Sources in the chief minister’s office said that Jarkiholi may get a different portfolio during the reshuffle or expansion of the council of ministry. <br /></p>
<p>At last, minister Satish Jarkiholi has managed to rid off the excise portfolio. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made him the small scale industries (SSI) minister, while keeping the excise portfolio with himself. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Small scale industries portfolio is one among the many portfolios held by Siddaramaiah. The chief minister sent a letter requesting Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala to give his assent to the changes in the portfolio. <br /><br />Till late in the evening, there was no communique from Raj Bhavan as to whether the governor has approved the changes. <br /><br />Jarkiholi had gone to the extent of resigning as excise minister. The reasons were many. He had claimed that he cannot mingle with people as excise minister. <br />Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had pacified and assured Jarkiholi that he would be relieved of the portfolio at a suitable time. <br /><br />Performance review time<br /><br />Surprisingly, the swapping of the portfolios comes at a time when Siddaramaiah has <br />already begun the review of performance of all the departments to finalise the budget to be presented on March 13. <br /><br />He has been holding a series of meetings with bureaucrats and ministers to get feedback on various key departments’ performance. <br /><br />The excise department is one among the four high revenue generating departments in the State. <br /><br />Jarkiholi had met Siddaramaiah on Thursday as well as on Friday morning. Finally, his wish has been granted. But it is not clear whether he wanted this particular portfolio. <br />Sources in the chief minister’s office said that Jarkiholi may get a different portfolio during the reshuffle or expansion of the council of ministry. <br /></p>