After months of speculation, chaos and confusion, Karnataka is expected to witness a changed leadership on June 3, with DK Shivakumar set to take oath as the new Chief Minister of the state.
Only on Saturday, Shivakumar was unanimously elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) in the state, paving the way for him to assume the chief minister’s throne.
Siddaramaiah resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister on Thursday, May 28, saying he had obeyed the wish of the Congress high command. He was the longest serving Chief Minister of the state.
Shivakumar had previously served as Siddaramaiah’s deputy. On Saturday, after being elected CLP leader, he met Governor Thawchand Gehlot at Lok Bhavan and demanded formation of a new government.
After DKS was elected, talks about what his government might look like surfaced. Here’s what we know:
Ministerial seat for Ibn Seida?
Amid the already existing hype, further reports suggested that Siddaramaiah, who had to resign as chief minister, was pushing for a ministerial post for his son, Yatindra.
HT had earlier reported that Yatindra threw his hat into the ring for a place in the Shivakumar government on Saturday itself. The possibility of Siddaramaiah’s son getting a ministerial post was reportedly part of the internal power-sharing understanding reached when the Congress formed the state government in 2023.
Read also | As Siddaramaiah steps aside, Congress faces lessons from Karnataka’s past.
In that year and in the following years, several reports indicated that Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had reached an agreement to serve as chief minister of the state for two-and-a-half years each during the five-year term.
Additionally, Yatendra denied reports that Siddaramaiah had sought a ministerial berth for him during discussions with the party high command in Delhi in the days before his resignation as chief minister.
The member of the state legislative council also stated that senior leaders support his appointment in the next government.
Read also | “I am not interested in national politics,” says Siddaramaiah after resigning as Karnataka chief minister.
According to Yathindra, senior Congress leaders, including Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, have said that he should be “given a Cabinet position and should be allowed to grow”.
He added: “I am definitely a candidate for a ministerial position.”
However, a leader familiar with the talks had earlier said: “Siddaramaiah wants Yatindra in a politically significant department. The social welfare portfolio is among the options under discussion.”
Two deputy prime ministers?
Discussions among party leaders have considered the possibility of appointing two deputy chief ministers, with MP Patel – a Lingayat – and Dalit leader Priyank Karg – son of Mallikarjun Karg – emerging as main contenders.
HT had earlier reported that Satish Jarkiholi is also under consideration for the deputy chief minister’s post. He is also under consideration for the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, which is currently held by chief minister-designate D K Shivakumar.
The possibility of appointing up to four deputy prime ministers to accommodate regional and social considerations was also initially under consideration, HT reported earlier, citing people familiar with the matter. However, the number is now expected to be limited to two amid competing claims from senior leaders.
Read also | Crisis Manager to Prime Minister Designate: How DK Shivakumar rose to leadership in Karnataka
Amid all the hullabaloo, Jarkiholi said there were discussions on whether the posts of deputy chief minister should be created, adding that the Congress party would decide on the issue.
Others eyeing key positions in the new government include senior Dalit leader G Parameshwara and Lingayat leader Ishwar Khandre.
There is no proposal yet about the next Shivakumar government
National Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said that no proposal has been received yet regarding the new Karnataka government headed by Chief Minister-designate D K Shivakumar.
Kharji also suggested that decisions regarding ministers, deputy prime ministers and key appointments will be taken only after consultations following the swearing-in ceremony on June 3.
“We have to see. No proposal has been made yet (on appointment of ministers). Once the proposal is made, discussions will be held on how many ministers and deputy prime ministers should be appointed, and whether important presidencies should also be filled with him,” PTI quoted him as saying.
Kharji added, “All these matters are under discussion. We will know after June 3. Now we have to wait.”
Regarding the details regarding the expansion of the Cabinet, Kharji said that he had not received Shivakumar’s suggestion on whether he would appoint eight or ten ministers. He said that once the Congress leadership receives the proposal, the first phase of cabinet expansion will be completed first, and the second phase for the remaining posts will take place after 15 days or a month.
Regarding the issue of choosing a new head of the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Kharg said that changing leadership is a natural process, adding that the party is searching for a suitable successor. “This is normal. Once the current president steps down, someone else will have to come in. We are looking. We have to identify the good person and also think about the right combination,” he added.
