BENGALURU: Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, Satish Jarkiholi, on Friday said the decision on creating additional Deputy Chief Minister posts rests with the Congress high command and indicated that such a move could strengthen the party organisation.
It can be noted that Satish Jarkiholi, a close associate of former CM Siddaramaiah, is in the forefront in the race for getting the Deputy CM's post.
The high command is considering creation of two more posts of Deputy Chief Ministers. Senior leader G. Parameshwara has been made Deputy CM currently with Revenue, Sports portfolios.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Minister Jarkiholi said discussions on Cabinet expansion are in their final stages and hinted that the exercise could take place by coming Sunday or Monday.
“The high command has to take a decision on the creation of additional Deputy Chief Minister posts. If such positions are given, it will help strengthen the party organisation,” he said.
On the visit of Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal and other senior leaders to Karnataka, Jarkiholi said they had come primarily to discuss organisational matters, though deliberations on Cabinet expansion could also take place.
“Venugopal and other leaders are here regarding organisational issues. Naturally, discussions on the Cabinet are also likely. Two additional portfolios are being created, and we will have to see how they are handled,” he said.
Responding to remarks by his daughter, Congress MP Priyanka Jarkiholi that her father could become Chief Minister in 2028, Jarkiholi said it was too early to speculate.
“There is still time for that. Let us first successfully discharge the responsibilities we currently have,” he said.
On the much-awaited Cabinet expansion, the minister said, “It may happen on Sunday or Monday. It has been delayed because political activity in Delhi has intensified. Whenever the high command calls, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah will go. The delay is not because separate lists have been taken to Delhi; only the final round of discussions remains.”
Jarkiholi also welcomed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s proposal for talks with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on the Cauvery water-sharing issue, saying dialogue would be preferable to prolonged litigation.
“If there is a one-to-one discussion, it will be good. Tamil Nadu has nothing to lose and stands to benefit. When there is adequate flow, it is only a matter of storing one day’s water. It will help create a third source of drinking water. It is better for both sides to sit and talk. Otherwise, they will go to court and we will go to court, and the issue will continue indefinitely,” he said.
Commenting on the nationwide protests over irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Jarkiholi said there was no need to treat the issue as a matter of prestige and that shortcomings in the examination process should be addressed.
“There may be lapses, and they should be corrected. The Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has not said anything so far. Someone has to take responsibility. Even countries like China and Russia have witnessed large-scale protests. The Prime Minister should take action. The issue should not have been allowed to escalate to this level,” he said.
He also criticised attempts to brand student protesters in New Delhi as anti-national.
“Now, they are calling all of them anti-national. That is not right,” Jarkiholi added.
