Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Priyank Kharge will once again be in-charge of Information Technology and Biotechnology (IT & BT) department in the state, with Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday affecting a minor re-allocation of portfolios to his cabinet.

Kharge will take care of IT & BT along with existing portfolio, while Large & Medium Industries Minister M B Patil has been given the additional charge of Infrastructure Development.

The chief minister has divested himself of both these portfolios.

According to sources, initially, Patil was given the IT & BT portfolio along with Industries.

However, in a subsequent revision the department went to Kharge along with Rural Development and Panchayat Raj.

With Patil keen on IT & BT, apparently opposing this move, Siddarmaiah had kept the portfolio with himself.

Kharge was minister for IT & BT in the earlier Siddaramaiah-led Congress government.