Karnataka Power Shift: G Parameshwara Likely To Be Deputy Chief Minister; Key Factors Behind His Possible Rise

Karnataka Power Shift: In a major transition in Karnataka politics, DK Shivakumar will take the oath as the chief minister on Wednesday in the presence of the senior party leaders. Shivakumar got the CM post after a long power tussle with former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, another party veteran. While the party has confirmed Shivakumar's name as the chief minister, suspense continues over the deputy chief minister's post. As per the reports, Karnataka is likely to get multiple deputy CMs in the new setup.

G Parameshwara Emerges As Frontrunner

As per the reports, Karnataka home minister and Congress senior leader G Parameshwara is the frontrunner for the post of deputy chief minister. With several decades of experience in active politics, Parameshwara is one of the leading Dalit leaders of the state. If reports turn to be true, this could be a major decision amid the alleged internal rift in the party.

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Key Factors Behind His Possible Promotion

- Balancing caste representation: Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community, a major political force in Karnataka. Siddaramaiah was known for representing the AHINDA group, another key community in the southern state. With Siddaramaiah's exit, promotion of Parameshwara would give representation to the Dalit community.

- Smooth transition: Congress has been dealing with an internal rift due to multiple factions for the past several years. However, Parameshwara has not been publicly associated with either Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar, making him a strong contender for the post.

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- Experience: Parameshwara is a former state party chief and has served as minister in the state cabinet on multiple occasions. He also previously served as Deputy Chief Minister and was appointed as the home minister in the Siddaramaiah government.

- Manage factions: With Parameshwara's possible promotion, the Congress high command will give a message of rewarding experienced and obedient party workers. Parameshwara could also be instrumental in maintaining balance between the factions.