Published 22:07 IST, May 19th 2018
INSIDE SCOOP: DK Shivakumar to demand to be made Karnataka's Deputy CM. But there's a twist
Republic TV has accessed an exclusive inside scoop relating to the cabinet structuring between the JD(S) and Congress for the soon-to-be sworn in HD Kumaraswamy-led Karnataka government.
- Election News
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Republic TV has accessed an exclusive inside scoop relating to the cabinet structuring between the JD(S) and Congress for the soon-to-be sworn in HD Kumaraswamy-led Karnataka government.
Ever since the Congress offered the JD(S) its unconditional support in an effort to stop the BJP from coming into power in the state, there has been talk of a rift within the Congress' ranks over who will be named Deputy Chief Minister. The two names that have been mentioned in this regard are G Parameshwar, the Congress' Karnataka chief, and DK Shivakumar, the influential Energy minister in the erstwhile Siddaramaiah-led government.
Now, Republic TV has learnt that the rift is likely to escalate as DK Shivakumar is going to be meeting Kumaraswamy and will demand to be named Karnataka Deputy CM.
A twist to the story, however, is that Kumaraswamy is said to already support Shivakumar for the position and has even proposed it to the alliance. However, Kumaraswamy's father and former Prime Minister of India HD Deve Gowda apparently favours G Parameshwara for Deputy CM and feels that DK Shivakumar should remain Energy minister.
Shivakumar played an instrumental role since the election results were revealed by bringing independents on to the JD(S)-Congress' side and was also reportedly tasked with keeping the Congress' MLAs together and away from the BJP's attempts to get them to switch sides.
Shivakumar's efforts can be said to have paid off as the Congress and JD(S) managed to keep their flocks together as a result of which Yeddyurappa resigned before the floor test in the Karnataka Assembly. Two Congress MLAs who were thought to have jumped ship to the BJP also returned to the party's fold. Kumaraswamy is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in on Monday.
Updated 22:39 IST, May 19th 2018