Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony in Karnataka, Congress MLA MB Patil exuded confidence in the grand old party and said that the party would give all communities their due share. He also said that all the communities will be given due respect and power will be shared with all the communities.
On being asked about the Dalit community's demand for a Deputy CM post for G Parameshwara, Karnataka Congress MLA & a Lingayat leader MB Patil says, "Whoever voted - the Lingayats, the Dalits, the Vokkaligas, the STs, Muslims - all these people have to be given their due share. I am confident our party will do the same. They will give due respect to all these communities and the power will be shared with all communities," as quoted by the news agency ANI.
Congress on Thursday officially announced the name of the chief ministerial and deputy chief ministerial face, thus ending days of suspense. Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were chosen to be chief minister and deputy chief minister respectively. Both leaders are scheduled to visit the national capital today to discuss the names of MLAs to be inducted into the government. They had returned to Bengaluru yesterday to attend the Congress Legislative Party meeting, and staking claim to form government before the Governor. The swearing-in ceremony will be held on May 20.
Amid the rapid political developments, reports emerged that MB Patil, a Lingayat leader, and G Parameshwara, a Dalit leader, were upset over the denial of deputy chief minister posts, as reported by ANI. On being asked about the Lingayat community’s demand for a Deputy CM post for him, Patil said that he is confident that Congress will give due share to the community.
“…Lingayats contesting on BJP tickets have been rejected. So, naturally, when we have come towards Congress, the expectations are high. They want a due share. I am confident that our party will take care of it,” he said, as quoted by ANI. “…Why not? I would have been much happier if I got 50 seats,” said Patil when asked about the “tussle” arising out of Lingayat and Dalit communities’ demand for Deputy CM posts for G Parameshwara and him amid the thumping victory of the party in elections.
Karnataka Congress MLA and former State Minister, TB Jayachandra, reacting to reports of MB Patil and G Parameshwara being upset over being denied Deputy CM posts, said, “No, it is a decision of the high command to make DK Shivakumar the only Deputy Chief Minister. So, I don’t think other things will rise,” as quoted by ANI. A seasoned political leader with socialist leanings, Siddaramaiah is set to be Karnataka Chief Minister for a second term with the Congress leadership deciding to entrust him with the task of quick delivery on the promises to people including “five guarantees”.