Will Karnataka have 4 Deputy Chief Ministers? Here’s what unfolded in CWC meeting

The 2024 Lok Sabha Election results have had interesting consequences on the internal dynamics of the Indian National Congress (INC). The loss in the Bengaluru Rural constituency which was considered to be a stronghold of the INC has led to a crisis for DK Shivakumar. DK Shivakumar was considered to be the Vokkaliga face of the party. INC however did not perform well in constituencies wherein the Vokkaliga vote base played a decisive role. 

A Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting was held in Delhi after the results were announced.  The issues of additional Deputy Chief Ministers (DCMs) in Karnataka had been raised earlier, however there was opposition from DCM DK Shivakumar in this regard. Reports suggest that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah once again raised this demand in the meeting. 

Also Read: Lok Sabha Elections 2024: What do early trends indicating D.K Suresh’s loss imply for Congress in Karnataka?

Siddarmaiah is said to have suggested that 4 DCMs would prove to be beneficial for Karnataka. He also supposedly argued that had this measure been taken at an earlier stage, the results of the Lok Sabha Election in Karnataka could have been different. 

How the Congress high command responds to this demand remains to be seen. Although DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah left for Delhi together, DK Shivakumar is believed to have stayed back to have an intensive discussion in this regard with the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Mallikarjun Kharge.