3 weeks ago
Karnataka CM Shivakumar Heads to Delhi Amid Cabinet Portfolio Lobbying
In India, there is a state called Karnataka.
Its government is led by a leader named D.K. Shivakumar, who is the Chief Minister.
Before the state legislature starts a session on August 13, leaders in his party are arguing over which important jobs, called Cabinet portfolios, each of them should get.
Some leaders are unhappy because they feel their communities are not represented fairly.
The Lingayat community got seven of those important jobs, and other leaders are upset about that.
One leader, T.B. Jayachandra, was so unhappy that he said he might sit apart from his party.
But after the Chief Minister visited his home and talked with him, he said everything was fixed.
Another leader named H.C. Mahadevappa is still not happy, even after talking to party officials in Delhi.
The Chief Minister is now going to Delhi to ask the top leaders of his party, the Congress, to help settle the argument.
The goal is for everyone to work together when the legislature meeting begins.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is set to leave for New Delhi on Saturday to meet the Congress high command over Cabinet portfolio allocation.
Shivakumar held a closed-door meeting with former Chief Minister and CWC member Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru to discuss pacifying disgruntled leaders.
The Lingayat community has secured seven Cabinet berths, sparking discussions among legislators over the balance of representation for social groups.
Pro tem Speaker T.B. Jayachandra, who had threatened to sit separately from ruling party members, said after Shivakumar's visit that all problems were resolved and he would resume duties.
Senior Dalit leader and former minister H.C. Mahadevappa remains dissatisfied despite meeting Congress Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala in Delhi.
- Who
- Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, and disgruntled leaders such as T.B. Jayachandra and H.C. Mahadevappa.
- What
- Lobbying and discontent over the allocation of Cabinet portfolios among Congress legislators ahead of the Karnataka Legislature's Monsoon Session; Shivakumar is seeking the Congress high command's intervention.
- Where
- Bengaluru and New Delhi.
- When
- The Delhi visit is set for Saturday, days before the Monsoon Session scheduled to begin on August 13.
- Why
- To settle differences over portfolio distribution and community representation so the Congress legislature party presents a united front during the Monsoon Session.
Disgruntled legislators
Congress leadership
Cabinet portfolio allocation
Disgruntled legislators
Senior leaders such as T.B. Jayachandra and H.C. Mahadevappa expressed displeasure over how portfolios were being handled; Jayachandra even threatened to sit separately from the ruling party.
Congress leadership
The Chief Minister and party leadership are holding meetings and seeking high command intervention to resolve the issue; after Shivakumar's visit, Jayachandra said all problems had been resolved and he would resume his duties.
Community representation in the Cabinet
Disgruntled legislators
Legislators from other social groups, including Dalits represented by Mahadevappa, are concerned that the balance is tilted after the Lingayat community secured seven Cabinet berths.
Congress leadership
The Congress leadership assured Mahadevappa that the party will stand by him and has tasked Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy with addressing his concerns.
Key facts
- Chief Minister
- D.K. Shivakumar
- Closed-door meeting
- Shivakumar met former CM Siddaramaiah at his Bengaluru residence on Friday night
- Monsoon Session begins
- August 13
- Lingayat Cabinet berths
- 7
- Portfolios in demand
- Social Welfare, Labour, Higher Education, Excise
- Congress Karnataka in-charge
- Randeep Singh Surjewala
- Status of T.B. Jayachandra
- Says all problems resolved; will resume duties as Speaker
- Dissatisfied leader
- H.C. Mahadevappa, former minister and senior Dalit leader
Quotes
T.B. Jayachandra
Pro‑tem Speaker and MLA
“"As of today, I am the Speaker. All the problems have been resolved and I will go to the office and start my work. It is a constitutional obligation. If I do not discharge my duties, I will be called a coward."”
thehansindia.com
Sources
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