Yathindra Siddaramaiah says Congress high command assured him ministerial berth

Bengaluru: Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Sunday said he was hopeful of a place in the next Karnataka cabinet and claimed that the party high command had assured him of a ministerial berth.

The son of outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, however, said nothing had been finalised yet and that he remained hopeful about his prospects.

"Nothing has been decided yet. I am an aspirant for a ministerial berth, and the high command has also assured me that I will be made a minister. So, naturally, I am hopeful," Yathindra told reporters here.


He said he had called on Chief Minister-elect D K Shivakumar to personally congratulate him on his elevation.

"I have met him only at Vidhana Soudha and on a few occasions elsewhere. I had not met him in his office or at his residence. So I just wanted to come and personally congratulate him," he said.

Asked whether he was in the reckoning for the post of deputy CM, Yathindra said no such demand had been made by him or his supporters.

"We have neither made any proposal nor put forward any demand for the deputy CM's post. We also do not know what the high command will decide," he said.

When asked if he would be able to handle the responsibility if offered the deputy CM's post, Yathindra replied, "Let's see that first."

He also said he had discussed the Special Intensive Revision in the state and political affairs in Mysuru district, without elaborating further.