Bengaluru, (DHNS): Forest Minister Ramanath Rai on Wednesday claimed that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sounded him on allotting the Home portfolio.

“I have given my opinion to the chief minister. However, I cannot make that public as it was a closed-door meeting. I am a loyal worker of the party and will discharge any responsibility assign to me,” Rai told reporters in Bengaluru.

When his reaction was sought, Siddaramaiah said, “The expansion of the Cabinet has to happen....We will take a decision on portfolio allocation.”

Meanwhile, leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar opposed the chief minister’s reported plan to make Rai the Home Minister.

“Rai has failed to maintain law and order in Dakshina Kannada district, which was rocked by communal violence recently. Then, how can he maintain law and order of the state? Though it is the discretion of the chief minister to allocate portfolios, Siddaramaiah should be careful while allocating the crucial Home portfolio,” he told reporters who sought his reaction to speculation in political circles that the chief minister will allocated the Home portfolio to Rai.

Rai is currently Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment.

Rai shouldn’t be home minister: KSE

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council K S Eshwarappa said on Wednesday that if Minister for Forests Ramanath Rai was given additional charge of the Home portfolio, it would be like giving the house keys to the thief, reports DHNS from Shivamogga. Speaking to reporters, he said there was speculation that Rai may be made the home minister. Rai was responsible for violence in Dakshina Kannada district recently, Eshwarappa said. “If he becomes home minister, it would be an insult to the state. The post of home minister is a highly responsible one. The one who holds the post must take people of all communities into confidence and maintain the law and order,” the former deputy chief minister said.