Karnataka: JD(S)' Basavaraj Horatti and Congress' MB Patil may not get cabinet berth

By Gururaj B R

All communities stake a claim on deputy chief minister’s post for their MLAs

Congress leaders have opposed the induction of former Water Resources Minister MB Patil into the yet-to-be formed cabinet led by HD Kumaraswamy. He is said to have damaged the Congress’s prospects by raising demand for separate status for the Lingayats. Similarly, the fate of MLC and JD(S) leader Basavaraj Horatti who also batted for separate tag hangs in balance. Horatti is said to be in the race for a cabinet berth.

Congress leaders, particularly MLAs from Lingayat community are against MB Patil’s induction. The JD(S) Supremo, HD Deve Gowda, too is reluctant to induct Patil. The JD(S) had opposed the move to divide the Lingayat community. Interestingly, no one has raised their voice against Horatti’s inclusion into the state cabinet because of his proximity to Deve Gowda’s family and loyalty to the party.


As Horatti is a senior and influential leader of the JD(S) from North Karnataka, Deve Gowda is pondering over inducting him into the cabinet under Lingayat quota. But nothing has been finalised so for, said a JD(S) leader.

Meanwhile, the Congress MLAs representing the Lingayat community held a meeting on Monday, under the stewardship of senior leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa and demanded the deputy chief minister’s post as well as five ministerial berths for MLAs from the community.

Clamour for DyCM post
The Lingayat community has been eyeing the deputy chief minister’s post for Shamanur Shivashankarappa. But the Nayak community leaders have demanded the post for Satish Jarkiholi, while the Brahmins pressed for RV Deshpande from the Congress to be considered for the DyCM post.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President G Parameshwara told reporters on Tuesday that the post of deputy chief minister is likely to be finalised by the party high command by tomorrow. KPCC President G Parameshwara is taking oath along with HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday, he added.