BENGALURU: G Parameshwara's elevation as deputy chief minister in DK Shivakumar's government in Karnataka has revived memories of a tussle at the top, highlighting the Congress party's long history of competing centers of authority in the state.
Historical Parallels
During Siddaramaiah's second stint as chief minister, Shivakumar served as deputy CM and was widely seen as a parallel center of authority. A similar dynamic played out during Siddaramaiah's first tenure between 2013 and 2018. At that time, Parameshwara, as Karnataka Congress president, waged a prolonged battle with the chief minister over appointments and organizational control of the party.
However, relations between the two veterans improved considerably after the Congress-JD(S) coalition government collapsed in 2019. During Siddaramaiah's second stint as CM, Parameshwara emerged as one of his key supporters.
A Move to Pacify
This time, Parameshwara, a prominent Dalit face, was a contender for the chief minister's post. His elevation as deputy CM is widely seen as a move to pacify him and to balance caste and factional factors within the party. Parameshwara, along with others, had consistently backed Siddaramaiah's continuation as CM whenever Shivakumar's supporters pushed for a change.
“Unlike many ambitious functionaries, he is known to avoid open confrontation and has rarely pursued aggressive factional politics like Siddaramaiah or Shivakumar,” said MN Patil, a political commentator.
Parameshwara's Statement
“It is true I wanted to be CM. But, as disciplined soldiers of the party, we must abide by decisions of the high command. This position is not a demotion. The party provides opportunities for different people to lead. This time, it has picked DK Shivakumar,” Parameshwara said.
The development underscores the Congress party's ongoing efforts to manage internal dynamics and maintain unity in Karnataka.
