Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has clarified that the appointment of three more deputy chief ministers in the state will be decided by the Congress high command. He stated that he has no say in the matter and will adhere to the decision made by the high command. This announcement came in response to Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna’s proposal to have three additional deputy chief ministers in Karnataka, with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Minister K.N. Rajanna had expressed his personal opinion on the matter and indicated that he would discuss it with the Congress high command. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah acknowledged Rajanna’s opinion but reiterated that the final decision rests with the high command.
Siddaramaiah stated, “He (Rajanna) has expressed his opinion, but ultimately high command has to decide. The high command had said that one Deputy Chief Minister was enough and had appointed one. He (Rajanna) has said that he will speak to the high command on three more DCMs. Let him. I don’t have anything (to say). Ultimately high command has to make the decision. Whatever is the decision taken by the high command, I will obey it.”
Rajanna had proposed that the three deputy chief minister positions should be allocated to leaders representing the Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST, and minority communities. Currently, DK Shivakumar, who belongs to the Vokkaliga community, serves as the only Deputy Chief Minister in the state and is also the state Congress president.
Rajanna’s proposal for three additional Deputy Chief Ministers has emerged despite the earlier Congress decision during cabinet formation that only one deputy CM would be appointed. This decision was made to resolve the competition between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah for the chief minister’s post after the Assembly election results earlier this year. It was seen as a commitment by the Congress leadership to Shivakumar as part of convincing him to relinquish his claim to the CM post and accept the role of deputy chief minister.
In response to Rajanna’s statement, State Home Minister G Parameshwara, who had aspired to become Deputy Chief Minister when the government was formed in May, expressed support for Rajanna’s proposal. Parameshwara stated that Rajanna’s intention was good, considering the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, but the decision on whether to implement it would rest with the high command.
The issue of appointing more Deputy Chief Ministers in Karnataka remains under discussion within the Congress party, with the final decision expected to come from the party’s central leadership.
