Siddaramaiah’s son to get deputy CM post in Karnataka? Yathindra reveals what Rahul Gandhi told him about the new cabinet | Today’s news
Congress president Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Monday said he was assured by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi that he would be inducted into the Cabinet.
Yathindra Siddaramaiah said he was not looking at a specific portfolio. When asked if he wanted to be a deputy minister, he replied “No”.
The statement came at a time when the Congress leadership is working to decide on the contours of the new Karnataka cabinet to be formed under the leadership of DK Shivakumar.
Yathindra Siddaramaiah told ANI, “When I last visited the high command, Rahul Gandhi said that my interest will be taken care of and said that I will be inducted into the cabinet, so I am hopeful. Whatever the portfolio is, I will be happy.”
New Karnataka Cabinet
DK Shivakumar was on Saturday elected as the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka following Siddaramaiah’s resignation as Chief Minister.
Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah arrived in Delhi on Monday to meet the Congress high command to discuss the composition of the new state cabinet ahead of the swearing-in ceremony on June 3.
Speaking to reporters after his arrival, Shivakumar expressed his best wishes to the people of Karnataka. “I wish Karnataka all the best. The people of Karnataka have been waiting for this for a long time,” he said.
Sources told ANI Siddharamaiah had proposed the formation of a coordination committee in the state.
The appointment of deputy ministers will also be discussed, they added.
They said the party leadership was considering an OBC candidate for the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president.
Karnataka Rajya Sabha MP Naseer Hussain told ANI that the party leadership will take necessary decisions regarding the transfer of power.
He added that the party will form the cabinet keeping in mind the caste, community, social and regional balance.
“The handover of power in Karnataka has been very smooth. When (DK Shivakumar) is sworn in, the Council of Ministers will also be sworn in. The high command will now decide how many leaders will be sworn in and whether they will be deputy CMs or not. DK Shivakumar will be sworn in at Raj Bhavan at 3 pm, along with the Council at 3 pm.
10 ministers to take oath in first installment
Ahead of the ceremony, Congress MLA Ashok M Pattan gave insights into the expected cabinet formation.
“I think there will be a meeting tonight as well and tomorrow I think there will be a meeting at the ministries in Karnataka. The swearing-in ceremony will be on Wednesday at 4 am,” Pattan told ANI.
He said, “…I think it’s two installments and from my information I think there will be 10 members sworn in for the first series.”
“Others, they have left, other people will be announced next month, first week, because of assembly elections, there are Rajya Sabha elections. I think after that it will be a full-fledged ministry,” Pattan added.
On speculation about Siddaramaiah’s son being part of the cabinet, he said, “According to my knowledge, he will be there.”
