BENGALURU: More than 24 hours after the cabinet expansion, the absence of ‘Minister 34’ in the ministry has turned into a test case of caste arithmetic, factional loyalty, and former CM Siddaramaiah’s writ within his party.
The plot thickened on Tuesday when Siddaramaiah was spotted sharing a public platform with Byadagi MLA Basavaraj Shivannavar, that set off a fresh round of speculation. Sources indicate this was no coincidence— Siddaramaiah had personally recommended Shivannavar’s name to the high command for the vacant slot.
Despite the recommendation, sources say the name that eventually did the rounds changed, and what actually happened remains a mystery. When The New Indian Express reached out to Shivannavar, all he said was, “We have to wait and see what the high command does”, neither confirming his candidacy nor ruling it out.
Sources say Siddaramaiah has been in touch with both Shivannavar and Gayathri Shanthegowda, who was dropped at the last minute— a sign that the former CM may be attempting to manage the fallout on two fronts simultaneously.
One possible solution being floated is that Shanthegowda could be accommodated as the CM’s political secretary, a consolation post while still freeing up a cabinet berth for a North Karnataka Kuruba face. If true, it could be a classic Karnataka Congress solution— nobody loses outright, everybody gets something, and the optics of caste balance are met. Shanthegowda said she would not be able to comment on this right now.
The push for a North Karnataka Kuruba minister isn’t just sentimental. Should Shivannavar, Raghavendra Hitnal or Gaviappa HR make the cut, sources say the Backward Class tally in the cabinet would climb to seven, which would give the community -- considered core to Siddaramaiah’s own social coalition -- its strongest presence in the government. The Backward Class/Kuruba vote bank is inseparable from Siddaramaiah’s political identity.
Besides the Kurubas, aspirants from the general category, and SC and ST communities are also making their case for the lone vacancy. This presents a headache for the high command which has to make a pick without alienating the others. Given how Gayathri Shanthegowda’s exclusion played out, the party leadership will be aware that this decision is loaded with risk.