Fresh power tussle over dy CM posts, cabinet berths & KPCC chief

Bengaluru: With the leadership tussle settled and D K Shivakumar expected to assume office as the new CM, the Congress high command has now turned its attention to the more challenging task of cabinet formation and selecting a new Congress president amid growing pressure from senior leaders and caste groups demanding representation. The prospect of appointing multiple deputy CMs and reallocating key portfolios has intensified lobbying within the party ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, likely to take place on Monday. The Karnataka cabinet can have a maximum of 34 members, including the CM. Senior Dalit functionaries G Parameshwara, K H Muniyappa and Priyank Kharge, along with Lingayat heavyweights M B Patil and Eshwar Khandre, are among those pushing for deputy CM posts and key portfolios in the new dispensation. Party sources said nearly 15 ministers from Siddaramaiah's outgoing cabinet may be retained.Initially, the leadership had considered appointing up to four deputy CMs to maintain social and regional balance. However, sources said the party is now inclined to limit the number to one or two because of growing competition for the posts. If Shivakumar takes charge as CM, he is expected to retain the Bengaluru development and finance portfolios, earlier held by Siddaramaiah. However, home minister G Parameshwara is said to be lobbying strongly for the finance portfolio, while K H Muniyappa and H K Patil are eyeing the water resources department. Industries minister M B Patil is also trying to retain his portfolio, arguing that a change could disrupt the state's investment flow.A meeting involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal was held in Delhi Friday to discuss cabinet formation, the new KPCC chief and Rajya Sabha polls. The Congress high command is said to be looking at lists submitted by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, with both leaders seeking accommodation for their loyalists. Another major challenge before the Congress leadership is the appointment of a new KPCC chief. Senior Congress MLA Satish Jarkiholi from Belagavi had initially emerged as the frontrunner to replace DKS. However, sources said Jarkiholi is seeking a dual role similar to DKS' earlier arrangement as deputy CM and KPCC president. This has reportedly prompted the high command to reconsider its options.Discussions are now focused on appointing either a Dalit or Lingayat leader as KPCC chief, keeping the 2028 Assembly elections in mind. The names of G Parameshwara and M B Patil are also being considered.Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra, an MLC, may be assigned a plum portfolio as part of efforts to signal continuity of Siddaramaiah's political legacy. Muslim leaders, U T Khader, B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, N A Haris and Saleem Ahmed are being considered for portfolios. Either Zameer or Haris may be accommodated as both represent Bengaluru Urban. If Khader is inducted into the ministry, H K Patil may be considered for the Speaker's post, sources added.Lobbying by districts and community is not far behind. A delegation of Congress leaders from Kolar met Kharge in Delhi to press for three ministerial berths for the district. The names of MLAs S N Narayanaswamy, K Y Nanjegowda and Kothur G Manjunath were recommended.Lingayat MLAs, too, have demanded stronger representation in the cabinet and deputy CM posts. After the meeting, minister Senior Congress MLA Ashok Pattan, who was in Delhi for nearly 40 days along with around 30 MLAs during the leadership transition process, hinted the new cabinet may have at least 20 newcomers.