Bengaluru, Feb. 11 -- The state government's decision to confer cabinet or minister of state rank on a large number of ruling party leaders has drawn criticism from the opposition.

Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, R Ashoka, accused the government of putting the state under fiscal stress by extending ministerial status to 149 Congress leaders, including legislators and heads of boards and corporations. The move was wont to cost nearly Rs.50 crore a year due to the privileges attached to the ranks, he claimed.

"Siddaramaiah, the most weak and inefficient chief minister the state has ever seen, is distributing ministerial positions to save his chair and is wasting public money for his selfish interests. How long will this shamel...