Congress high command to have final say on DCMs: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah

BENGALURU: The clamour for appointing three more deputy chief ministers in Karnataka is growing, but chief minister Siddaramaiah Wednesday deferred the decision to the party high command, saying its decision will be “final”.
Some ministers have been seeking deputy CM posts for Veerashaiva-Lingayat, SC/ST, and minority communities. Currently, DK Shivakumar, from the Vokkaliga community, is the lone deputy CM in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet.
A section within the Congress believes that the ministers’ statements seeking three more deputy CMs are part of a plan by Siddaramaiah’s camp to keep Shivakumar in check.
Party to respond aptly, says DKS
This comes amid talks that Shivakumar might seek the CM post after two-and-a-half years of the government's tenure and to counter his influence in both the government and party.
Cooperation minister KN Rajanna, housing minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, public works minister Satish Jarkiholi, and a few others - all considered close to Siddaramaiah -once again raised the pitch for three more deputy CMs earlier this week. The Congress is said to have decided that Shivakumar would be "the only" deputy CM amid stiff competition between him and Siddaramaiah for the CM's post after the assembly election results in May last year.
Seemingly expressing displeasure over the demand, Shivakumar said the party will respond appropriately. Asked whether there is a plan to have more deputy CMs, he said: "Please meet Mallikarjun Kharge (AICC chief), in-charge general secretary or ask the CM."