Fissures In Karnataka Govt: Congress Ministers Revive Demand For More Deputy CMs In State

Bengaluru: Within a month of the Lok Sabha election, demands for additional Deputy Chief Minister posts revived with two ministers talking about it in open space even when the Congress is licking wounds from an unexpected performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls with just nine out of 28 seats. 

In the run-up to polls, the ministers sought community-wise posts of Dy CM, citing its electoral benefits. The Congress leadership quashing those demands resulted in the party's poor electoral performance in the state, giving new ammunition to some community leaders. 

Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna and Minority Affairs Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan are among those Congress leaders who are exerting pressure on Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to roll out additional Dy CM posts. 

Rajanna belongs to the Scheduled Tribe (ST) community, while Khan is a Muslim. Both have sought a revival of discussion while Khan said Muslims hope for a Dy CM post as a representation of their community in the state cabinet. 

“Everyone has ambitions. Nothing wrong in asking. Every community has their own ambitions. SC, ST, the Muslim community and every other community have hope. Nothing wrong in asking the party leadership. Finally, it'll be decided by the high command. We have placed our request,” said Khan. 

On the other hand, Rajanna affirmed that whenever power is equally shared, all the communities develop trust towards the party. 

“But if only a few people enjoy power, and others are exempted, then the trust will collapse. I had proposed to make deputy CM's from Lingayat, SC/ST and from the minority communities. There are examples of the same as BJP has done the same.” 

He added that Deputy CMs don't have special privileges. “The perks cabinet ministers have the same are there for Dy CMs. Moreover, it's a question of prestige. Since it was Lok Sabha elections, we remained silent. Now the party high command must look into it.”

DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, serves as the only Dy CM of the state.