Bengaluru, August 26: Former Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee member Siddaramaiah’s recent statement regarding the appointment of only one Deputy Chief Minister has stirred discussions in political circles. Many view this as a sign of Siddaramaiah’s intent to strengthen his political influence within the Congress party.
A video of Siddaramaiah’s remarks went viral on social media on Wednesday. During a seminar on internal reservations held on Tuesday, he referenced the decision to appoint G. Parameshwara as the sole Deputy Chief Minister, noting that there had initially been a proposal for four to five Deputy Chief Ministers.
While discussing his contributions to marginalized communities through internal reservations, a participant raised the issue of no Scheduled Caste leader having ever become Chief Minister in Karnataka and urged him to initiate a movement on this topic. Siddaramaiah responded by questioning the participant’s familiarity with the issue and suggested they should lead the movement themselves. When attendees encouraged him to take the lead, he sharply replied that he could not do it alone.
When another audience member claimed that Siddaramaiah holds a position akin to that of the party high command and could therefore take initiative, he dismissed the suggestion, stating that people were merely talking.
During this exchange, Siddaramaiah posed a crucial question, “Who facilitated G. Parameshwara’s appointment as Deputy Chief Minister?” Notably, Parameshwara is one of the prominent Dalit leaders in the state. Although he expressed dissatisfaction at not being chosen for the Chief Minister role, he also stated his respect for the party high command’s decision.
In response to Siddaramaiah’s question, the audience indicated that he played a significant role in Parameshwara’s appointment. Siddaramaiah then reminded them of the initial plan to appoint four to five Deputy Chief Ministers and questioned who insisted on appointing only Parameshwara. The audience again affirmed that this decision was also made by Siddaramaiah.
The conversation elicited applause from those present and has since become a topic of political discourse. Siddaramaiah’s comments are being interpreted in the context of political developments following his resignation as Chief Minister. Although he has largely maintained a low profile since stepping down, his remarks at the seminar have intensified speculation about whether he intends to take on a more active role in the party.
Additionally, it is noteworthy that Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, has been assigned the Urban Development Department in the cabinet. Party insiders suggest that Siddaramaiah may strengthen his political activity and influence, particularly among minority, backward, and Dalit communities through social-political platforms in the coming days.
This situation could potentially create discomfort for Chief Minister Shivakumar.
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