Seemingly expressing his displeasure against ministers demanding three more deputy chief minister posts in Karnataka, state Congress President DK Shivakumar on Tuesday said the party would respond to them appropriately.
Currently, Shivakumar from the Vokkaliga community is the only DCM in the Siddaramaiah-led cabinet.
Some of the ministers in the cabinet have been pitching for DCM posts to be given to leaders from Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST and minority communities.
“You people (media) put in news if someone says something. Why should I say no to people who are happy (by appearing in news).... Let anyone make any demand, the party will respond to them appropriately. Simple,” Shivakumar told the media in response to a question.
Asked whether there is a plan in the party to have more deputy chief ministers, he said, “You please meet Mallikarjun Kharge (AICC president) and our in-charge general secretary or ask the chief minister.”
A section within the Congress is said to be of the opinion that the statement by ministers seeking three more DCM posts was part of a plan by Siddaramaiah’s camp to keep Shivakumar in check, amid talks that he might seek the CM post after two-and-a-half years of this government’s tenure, and to counter his influence both in the government and the party.
The ministers — Co-Operation Minister KN Rajanna, Housing Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and few others — who have pitched for three more DCMs are considered close to Siddaramaiah.
The Congress had decided that Shivakumar will be “the only” deputy CM amid stiff competition between him and Siddaramaiah for the chief minister’s post after the assembly election results in May last year.
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