In an unpleasant turn of events for the ruling Congress in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who accepted the 30-months each formula between him and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, is now bracing for another political manoeuvre, to tackle aides of the latter who have now made fresh demands for three more Deputy Chief Minister (DCMs) in a bid to dilute the former’s hold on government and party.
It may be recalled here that there were demands from Lingayats and Dalits to make DCMs from their community, but the high command made it clear for only one DCM. While Shivakumar seems to be content in his current role and is working on strategies to get BJP and JDS leaders to crossover, some within the party seem to harbour ambitions of their own.
Demands for the creation of three additional Deputy Chief Minister positions have emerged, spearheaded by Cooperative Minister K.N. Rajanna, a prominent figure within the Congress government and a loyalist of CM Siddaramaiah.
The call for three more Deputy Chief Ministers—a Dalit, a Lingayat and a minority—is seen by some as an attempt to dilute Sivakumar’s influence. Rajanna argues that this move could bolster the party’s performance and secure more seats during the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He suggests that having leaders from three major castes in Deputy Chief Minister’s roles could sway voters from those communities towards the Congress.
