3 weeks ago
Yathindra defends Siddaramaiah after Cabinet picks ignored in Karnataka
In a place called Karnataka, there is a minister named Yathindra.
His father, Siddaramaiah, used to be the Chief Minister, which means he was the top leader of the state.
Some leaders got upset with Siddaramaiah because they said he did not try hard enough to get important government jobs, called Cabinet berths, for a group of leaders known as AHINDA.
Yathindra told reporters that his father did recommend a good leader named Mahadevappa for one of those jobs.
However, the top bosses of their political party, called the Congress high command, chose someone else instead.
Yathindra also said he got his own job because people in his community were unhappy after his father stepped down.
Some leaders are still unhappy about the choices that were made.
One of them, Mahadevappa, went to the capital city to talk to the party's top leaders.
The party bosses say they spoke to the leaders who were left out and explained their reasons.
Karnataka Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah defended his father, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, against allegations that he failed to secure Cabinet berths for AHINDA leaders.
Yathindra said Siddaramaiah recommended senior leader H.C. Mahadevappa at the top of both preliminary and final Cabinet lists, but the Congress high command ignored the recommendation.
The high command instead inducted P.M. Narendraswamy, a new face from the Scheduled Caste (Right) community, into the Cabinet.
Yathindra said his own Cabinet induction reflected the Kuruba community's dissatisfaction after Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister.
H.C. Mahadevappa left for New Delhi to meet the party's national leadership as discontent grew among AHINDA bloc legislators over the selection process.
- Who
- Karnataka Urban Development Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah, who defended his father and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah amid criticism from AHINDA bloc legislators.
- What
- The Congress high command ignored Siddaramaiah's top recommendation of H.C. Mahadevappa for the Karnataka Cabinet and inducted P.M. Narendraswamy instead, deepening factional tensions in the state Congress.
- Where
- Mysuru, Karnataka, where Yathindra spoke to reporters; H.C. Mahadevappa left for New Delhi.
- When
- Thursday, following the recent Karnataka Cabinet expansion.
- Why
- AHINDA bloc legislators believe Siddaramaiah did not strongly press their claims before the party high command during the Cabinet expansion.
Siddaramaiah's defenders
Discontented AHINDA legislators
Push for Cabinet berths
Siddaramaiah's defenders
Siddaramaiah recommended senior leaders including former minister H.C. Mahadevappa, placing his name at the top of both preliminary and final lists.
Discontented AHINDA legislators
Some legislators believe Siddaramaiah recommended only a limited number of names and did not strongly press his loyalists' claims before the party high command.
Final decision on the Cabinet list
Siddaramaiah's defenders
The Congress high command took the final decisions after considering several factors and explained the reasons to senior leaders like Mahadevappa and Tanveer Sait.
Discontented AHINDA legislators
The selection process has generated discontent among AHINDA bloc legislators, who are reportedly unhappy over the outcome.
Mahadevappa's exclusion
Siddaramaiah's defenders
The high command wanted new faces from the Scheduled Caste (Right) community, so it chose P.M. Narendraswamy instead.
Discontented AHINDA legislators
Mahadevappa, a close confidant of Siddaramaiah, was left out of the expanded ministry and left for New Delhi to meet the party's national leadership.
Key facts
- Minister involved
- Yathindra Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Urban Development Minister and Mysuru district incharge minister
- Person defended
- Siddaramaiah, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress Working Committee Member
- Recommended but not inducted
- H.C. Mahadevappa, former minister and close confidant of Siddaramaiah
- Inducted instead
- P.M. Narendraswamy, a new face from the Scheduled Caste (Right) community
- Current Karnataka Chief Minister
- D.K. Shivakumar
- Reason for Yathindra's induction
- Kuruba community dissatisfaction after Siddaramaiah stepped down as Chief Minister
- Reported Cabinet list discussions
- Names reportedly recommended by Siddaramaiah during discussions with Surjewala
- Following action
- Mahadevappa left for New Delhi; high command said to have explained reasons to him and Tanveer Sait
Quotes
Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah
Karnataka Urban Development Minister
“The party high command has already spoken to senior leaders like H.C. Mahadevappa and Tanveer Sait and explained the reasons behind the decision.”
thehansindia.com
“My father recommended Mahadevappa’s name at the top of the list. But the high command did not consider him.”
indianexpress.com




