Raheem Khan, Congress MLA from Bidar is the new Muslim minister in the Karnataka cabinet. He was sworn in on December 22, 2018, along with seven other new ministers. Khan is the third time MLA from Bidar and has been running a few professional educational institutions in the northernmost town of the State. Aged around 49, Khan became the choice as there was no one representing the Muslim community from northern Karnataka. The expansion of the Kumaraswami-led Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition came after protracted negotiations between the two allies tied in an uncomfortable relationship in the State for the last seven months. The signs of stress have been evident in the coalition which came into existence only to keep away the BJP which had emerged the largest party in the 224-member Assembly in elections held in May last. n
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