Bengaluru, May 24 -- Union minister for heavy industries and steel HD Kumaraswamy on Friday criticised Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar over the state cabinet's decision to rename Ramanagara district as Bengaluru South, accusing him of pushing the move to benefit personal real estate interests.

Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Kumaraswamy said, "The hidden agenda is clear. After all, this man is a real estate businessman. He knows how to play tricks to increase his land value."

Ramanagara was carved out of Bengaluru Rural in 2007 during Kumaraswamy's tenure as CM. It now falls under the Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha constituency represented by his brother-in-law, BJP MP Dr CN Manjunath. Kumaraswamy had previously represented ...