Caste groups jockeying for ministerial berths for their members is turning out to be a problem in Cabinet formation even as the Congress and Janata Dal (Secular) have deferred announcement of names till after Wednesday.
While the demand to give the second Deputy Chief Minister’s post to a Veerashaiva/Lingayat by the Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Mahasabha has already put the local Congress leadership in the spot, the mahasabha was at it again on Tuesday when it sought a clarification from former Minister H.K. Patil whether he was a Lingayat or not.
“As per our knowledge, only 16 Lingayats have won on Congress ticket but 17 are being shown. We would be happy if Mr. Patil clarifies his caste,” asked the mahasabha in a letter to Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president on Tuesday.
The mahasabha has been lobbying Deputy Chief Minister’s post for veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa, while another former Minister M.B. Patil, who led the movement of minority tag for Lingayats, is another contender. Mr. Patil’s candidature is being opposed by some Lingayat leaders.
Meanwhile, Vijayanand Kashappanavar, who lost from Hungund constituency in Bagalkot, has urged the Congress leadership not to give Cabinet berths to S.R. Patil and R.B. Thimmapur blaming them for the poor show of Congress in the district. He has threatened to stage a dharna in front of the KPCC office if the two were given Cabinet berths.
