Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge, as well as MLAs G Parameshwara and MB Patil, are among the eight MLAs who will be sworn in as ministers in Karnataka state Cabinet on Saturday.
According to a letter to the Governor dated May 20, the other MLAs who will be sworn in today are 7-time MP KH Muniyappa, KJ George, Satish Jarkiholi, Ramalinga Reddy, and BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan. The inauguration of Siddharamaiah as Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister, and eight MLAs as ministers will take place today at 12:30 p.m. at Bengaluru’s Kanteerava Stadium.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will administer the CM and his cabinet’s oath of office and secrecy.
The appointment of MB Patil and G Parameshwara to cabinet positions follows reports that MB Patil, a Lingayat leader, and G Parameshwara, a Dalit leader, were dissatisfied with the denial of deputy chief minister posts.
Despite reports that Karnataka Congress MLA G Parameshwara is upset about his denial of the deputy chief ministership, he said on Friday that it is time to forget about “individual aspirations” because the “party is supreme” for him.
He went on to say that the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in 2024 require people to “look forward.”
“This is the time when we all have to work together. This is the time when we should forget our individual aspirations. This is the time when we should fulfil the promises made to people…As I said, the party is supreme. So, we need to look forward. There is the 2024 Lok Sabha election. We have to consider those things as well,” Parameshwara said.
Congress MLA MB Patil said that all communities including Lingayat and Dalit need “due share” of powers in the new state government.
“…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.
“…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 Karnataka elections.
