Bengaluru; The swearing-in ceremony, held at Bengaluru’s Raj Bhavan, witnessed the notable absence of several senior Congress leaders who were left disappointed after being denied cabinet berths in the newly formed Government. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot presided over the oath-taking ceremony of 24 ministers, while the absence of these senior party members drew attention.
The Congress leadership faced challenging choices and ultimately decided to reject the aspirations of several senior legislators, including B. K. Hariprasad, M. Krishnappa, T. B. Jayachandra, and R. V. Deshpande. Most of these leaders chose not to attend the swearing-in ceremony, reflecting their discontent with the party’s decision.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had advocated for the inclusion of Jayachandra and Krishnappa in the Cabinet, while Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar supported Hariprasad’s appointment. However, after extensive deliberations in Delhi over a period of three days, the Congress High Command made the choice to deny cabinet berths to these three leaders.
One significant factor influencing this decision is believed to be the consideration of age factor, as these senior leaders may not actively participate in future elections. Instead, the party opted to provide opportunities to emerging faces. The ages of T. B. Jayachandra (63), M. Krishnappa (70), and Hariprasad (68) is said to have factored into the decision-making process.
Interestingly, R. V. Deshpande, a 76-year-old MLA from Haliyal Assembly constituency who has been elected nine times, was also denied a cabinet berth. Nevertheless, he attended the swearing-in ceremony and expressed his satisfaction with the Congress’ decision, displaying a sense of party loyalty.
Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar sought to reassure party members, stating that everyone would have their opportunities for suitable roles. Drawing from his personal experience, he emphasised the importance of patience and waiting for the right moment, highlighting that even he had faced similar circumstances earlier in his political career.
The absence of senior Congress leaders at the swearing-in ceremony underscores the disappointment and discontent that arose from the denial of Cabinet berths. It also sheds light on the delicate balancing act that political parties often face when distributing positions of power and ensuring fair representation across different factions.
As the Congress Government moves forward, it remains to be seen how these exclusions will impact the political landscape and the relationship between party leaders. The focus now shifts to the implementation of policies and the effective functioning of the newly appointed Cabinet ministers, as they assume their roles in the Siddaramaiah Government.