Karnataka minister S S Mallikarjun unaware of last-minute Cabinet inclusion

Newly inducted Karnataka minister S S Mallikarjun said Tuesday he is unaware why his name was added to the Cabinet list at the last minute or whom he replaced, though he expressed happiness at his appointment. The Davangere MLA said Chief Minister D K Shivakumar called him around 10 am Monday to attend the oath-taking ceremony, but his name was missing from the first list and appeared in a revised one. He said he does not know the reason for the change. Mallikarjun made the remarks after offering prayers at the Chamundeshwari temple in Mysuru with his family. His inclusion came as a last-minute twist in the Cabinet expansion.