Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna demanded to appoint three more Deputy Chief Ministers in the state before the Lok Sabha elections. He said that he will discuss this with the Congress high command. Here, the statement of State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has also come out on this demand.
High command will decide on three more Deputy Chief Ministers: Siddaramaiah
Amid calls from within his cabinet for the appointment of three more Deputy Chief Ministers, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday said that the high command will take a decision on this and he will abide by the decision. The Chief Minister, on his part, made it clear that he would not say anything on this issue. Taking decisions is the job of the high command. He said, Rajanna has expressed his opinion, but ultimately the decision has to be taken by the high command. The high command had said that one Deputy Chief Minister was sufficient and appointed one. Talking to journalists he said, I have nothing to say. Ultimately the decision has to be taken by the high command. Whatever decision the high command takes, I will follow it.
N Rajanna demanded that these community leaders should be made Deputy Chief Ministers.
N Rajanna advocated giving the post of Deputy Chief Minister to leaders of Veerashaiva-Lingayat, Scheduled Caste-Tribe and minority communities. Presently belonging to Vokkaliga community DK Shivakumar He is the Deputy Chief Minister in the cabinet led by Siddaramaiah. Shivkumar is also the state Congress president. Rajanna had said, Lok Sabha elections are near, we are watching and all the parties are preparing for the elections. Our wish is that Congress should win maximum seats in Karnataka. We are confident of our victory. The minister said that one post of Deputy Chief Minister should be given to a Scheduled Caste-Tribe, one post to a minority community and one post to a leader of the Veerashaiva community.
I do not want the post of Deputy Chief Minister: Rajanna
Minister Rajanna termed this as his personal opinion and said that he will discuss this issue with the high command. When asked who should be made the Deputy Chief Minister, Scheduled Tribe leader Rajanna said that the decision will be taken by the high command. He said, I do not want the post of Deputy Chief Minister, but the high command should give this post to the leaders of these communities. The decision of the high command will be the decision of all of us.
Priyank Kharge said, anyone can present his opinion before the central leadership of Congress.
Responding to Rajanna’s statement, IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge said, anyone can present his opinion before the central leadership of Congress. But I don’t think there is any such proposal (more than one Deputy Chief Minister) before the high command.
Shivkumar did not react to the demand for making three more Deputy Chief Ministers.
Shivkumar has not expressed any reaction on Rajanna’s statement regarding making three more Deputy Chief Ministers. But Shivakumar’s brother and MP DK Suresh said, you should ask Rajanna about this. He is involved in running the government.
Rajanna’s statement is being seen by Siddaramaiah’s camp as keeping Shivakumar under control.
A section within the Congress is of the opinion that Rajanna’s statement is part of a plan by the Siddaramaiah camp to control Shivakumar and reduce his influence in both the government and the party, as it is being said that this government will last two and a half years. After his tenure, Shivkumar can demand the post of Chief Minister. Different voices have been raised within the party regarding the post of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
BK Hariprasad advised to discuss the name of G Parameshwara for the post of Deputy Chief Minister.
Recently, senior Congress leader and MLC B K Hariprasad had said that either Dalit leader and longest serving KPCC president G Parameshwara (now Home Minister) should have been made the Chief Minister or at least his deputy for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. The name should have been considered because he had been Deputy Chief Minister earlier also. He had also said that Satish Jarkiholi (Public Works Minister) from the Scheduled Tribe community should have been made the Deputy Chief Minister.