Bengaluru: As the Congress leadership finalises the composition of the new Karnataka cabinet, supporters of several senior leaders staged protests and offered special prayers across the state, demanding Deputy Chief Minister and ministerial positions for their preferred candidates.
Chief Minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar and caretaker CM Siddaramaiah reached New Delhi on Monday to hold discussions with the Congress high command on the formation of the new state cabinet.
Members of the Dalit community staged a protest in front of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) office in Bengaluru, urging the party leadership to appoint a Dalit leader as Deputy Chief Minister.
The protesters demanded that senior Dalit leaders, including G. Parameshwara, K.H. Muniyappa, and H.C. Mahadevappa, be considered for the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. The demonstration was led by Dalit leader K. Venkataswamy.
The protesters also called upon the Congress high command to ensure adequate representation for Dalit leaders in the new government alongside Chief Minister-designate D.K. Shivakumar.
Meanwhile, Congress workers organised special prayers at the Veerabhadreshwara Temple in Halkarti village of Chittapur taluk, seeking the appointment of Minister Priyank Kharge as Deputy Chief Minister.
Supporters offered prayers and performed religious rituals, stating that Priyank Kharge had undertaken significant development works and possessed the administrative experience necessary for the post.
They urged the Congress leadership to appoint him as Deputy Chief Minister when D.K. Shivakumar takes oath as Chief Minister.
In Bengaluru, supporters of Shantinagar MLA and BDA Chairman N.A. Harris offered special prayers at the Adishakti Temple located at the GBA headquarters, seeking a Deputy Chief Minister or cabinet berth for the senior Congress leader.
As part of the rituals, supporters broke 108 coconuts and offered special prayers. Former Dharmaraya Swamy Temple President K. Satish, who led the ceremony, said Harris had performed commendably as BDA Chairman and had extended financial support for temple-related development works.
“Harris has done excellent work as BDA Chairman. He helped secure funds for the Karaga Kalyani project and supported temple activities whenever financial assistance was required. We are praying that he receives a ministerial berth or the post of Deputy Chief Minister,” Satish said.
He added that devotees considered the temple rituals auspicious and hoped Harris would be included in the new government when D.K. Shivakumar takes oath on Wednesday.
In Chikkaballapur district, Muslim community leaders and Congress workers offered prayers at the Hazrat Sheikh Shavali Dargah in Bagepalli town, seeking a ministerial berth for Bagepalli MLA S.N. Subbareddy.
Congress leader Mohammed Noorulla and several religious leaders participated in the prayers. Supporters argued that despite the constituency’s long political history, Bagepalli had not received adequate representation in the state cabinet.
Subbareddy, a three-time Congress MLA from Bagepalli Assembly constituency, is among the leaders whose supporters are actively lobbying for a place in the new ministry.
(IANS)
