Karnataka likely to have two Deputy Chief Ministers

Bengaluru, May 4: The Karnataka Congress is in desperate need for some course correction and the high command has suggested a host of measures to ensure that the party does not split up.

While decisions would be made only after May 20, the high command has been receiving complaints about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

However there is unlikely to be any decision on a change of guard in the near future. While many have said that they would like to see Mallikarjuna Kharge as the Chief Minister, the high command feels that his presence is required in New Delhi.

The via media option would be to introduce two Deputy Chief Ministers, sources tell OneIndia.

An alternative solution:

The Congress finds itself in a catch-22 situation with demands from within the party urging a change of Chief Minister. Replacing Siddaramaiah would mean angering backward classes. The demand by several Congress men is to replace him with a dalit chief minister.

The Congress high command has been suggesting that instead of replacing Siddarramaiah, they would instead introduce two Deputy Chief Ministers, one from the Lingayat community and another Dalit.

However if the anti Siddaramaiah group does have its way, then there is a possibility of introducing a Lingayat Chief Minister from North Karnataka and two deputy Chief Ministers- one Muslims and a Dalit.

All eyes would however be on what would transpire on May 19 the day Siddaramaiah is scheduled to reshuffle his cabinet. In case the reshuffle does not take place, then it is an indicator that the high command is looking for a change in guard, a senior Congress leader informed.

OneIndia News