Bengaluru, June 26 (UNI) Amid renewed calls for the appointment of three additional Deputy Chief Ministers in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah affirmed on Wednesday that the final decision rests with the Congress high command.
Several ministers have advocated for Deputy Chief Minister positions to be allocated to leaders from the Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST, and minority communities.
Currently, DK Shivakumar, from the Vokkaliga community, serves as the sole Deputy Chief Minister in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet. “Whatever the high command decides will be the final decision,” Siddaramaiah stated in response to reporters’ inquiries.
There is speculation within the Congress that the ministers’ demands for three more Deputy Chief Ministers might be part of a strategy by Siddaramaiah’s supporters to limit Shivakumar’s influence.
This move comes amid rumors that Shivakumar may seek the Chief Minister’s post after the current government’s mid-term point, aiming to counter his sway within both the government and the party.
Earlier this week, Co-Operation Minister KN Rajanna, Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, and several others, all perceived to be close to Siddaramaiah, reiterated their calls for additional Deputy Chief Ministers.
Following the Assembly election results in May last year, the Congress decided that Shivakumar would be the sole Deputy Chief Minister, amid intense competition between him and Siddaramaiah for the Chief Minister’s position.
This arrangement was reportedly a commitment by the Congress leadership to Shivakumar to persuade him to relinquish his claim for the Chief Minister post and accept the Deputy Chief Minister role.
Expressing his displeasure over the ministers’ demands, Shivakumar, who also serves as the state Congress president, stated on Tuesday that the party would respond appropriately.
