Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Aug 25: Even before the distribution of portfolios for the state cabinet ministers, there is huge demand for the position of Deputy Chief Minister (DCM).
Days have elapsed since the oath taking ceremony of 17 cabinet ministers took place. Chief minister B S Yediyurappa has gone to Delhi once to meet the national leaders of the party for the distribution of portfolios. However, nothing has been materialized so far. In the midst of these, the demand to make three people as DCMs is being heard.
Influential BJP leaders of the state have put pressure on the BJP central leaders to create the position of DCM in order to conduct smooth administration, to pacify the dissidence within the party as well to maintain regional balance in the cabinet. Rumours are making rounds that the top leaders of BJP at the central are also in discussion about of offering DCM position to three people, who are from the RSS background.
As of now Sriramulu, R Ashok, K S Eshwarappa, Govinda Karjol and Dr Ashwath Narayan are the aspirants for the positions of DCM. However, it is also heard that some MLAs of BJP have appealed to CM Yediyurappa not to appoint anyone as DCM now.
When BJP was in power in 2008, R Ashok, who is a Vokkaliga and K S Eshwarappa, who is from the back ward caste, were given DCM positions. Now there is a thought of creating three DCM positions depending on the region, caste and other organizational factors. According to a senior BJP leader, this is not the idea of the state BJP leaders but is mooted by the central leadership itself.
CM of Andhra Pradesh Jaganmohan Reddy has created five DCM posts. Accordingly, it is said that BJP, with the future elections in mind, is thinking of offering the DCM positions in Karnataka to three people.
There is also a possibility of offering DCM post to senior and young leaders after considering the RSS background, in addition to caste calculations of Vokkaliga, Dalit, backward communities etc. It is also heard that the state leaders have kept such a proposal in front of the central leaders and they are definitely going to accept the same, it is said.
Meanwhile, CM B S Yediyurappa has said that the portfolio list of new ministers is ready and will be distributed once he is back from his visit of Delhi. Speaking to reporters, Yediyurappa said, "List of portfolio is ready. I am going to Delhi on Sunday, August 25 to attend the funeral of Arun Jaitley. As it is not proper to distribute the portfolios during this time of mourning, the same will be done once I return from Delhi."