Karnataka Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Friday, 25 July said the decision on creating additional Deputy Chief Minister posts rests entirely with the Congress high command, while indicating that the long-awaited Karnataka Cabinet expansion could be completed by Sunday or Monday. Jarkiholi, speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, added that additional Deputy CM appointments would help consolidate the party's organisational strength in the state.

Cabinet Expansion in Final Stages

According to Jarkiholi, discussions on the Cabinet reshuffle are in their concluding phase. He attributed the delay to intensified political activity in New Delhi rather than any disagreement over separate ministerial lists. 'It may happen on Sunday or Monday. It has been delayed because political activity in Delhi has intensified. Whenever the high command calls, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah will go. The delay is not because separate lists have been taken to Delhi; only the final round of discussions remains,' he said.

Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal and other senior leaders are currently in Karnataka, primarily to address organisational matters, though deliberations on the Cabinet are also expected to take place, Jarkiholi noted.

Additional Deputy CM Posts Under Consideration

The Congress high command is reportedly weighing the creation of two additional Deputy Chief Minister posts. Currently, senior leader G. Parameshwara holds the Deputy CM position with the Revenue and Sports portfolios. Jarkiholi — widely regarded as a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and a prominent contender for one of the prospective Deputy CM slots — said the final call belongs to the central leadership. 'The high command has to take a decision on the creation of additional Deputy Chief Minister posts. If such positions are given, it will help strengthen the party organisation,' he said.

Notably, two additional portfolios are also being created as part of the broader expansion, though their allocation is yet to be finalised.

On the Cauvery Dispute and Tamil Nadu Talks

Jarkiholi welcomed Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's proposal for direct talks with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute, arguing that dialogue would be preferable to prolonged litigation. 'If there is a one-to-one discussion, it will be good. Tamil Nadu has nothing to lose and stands to benefit. It is better for both sides to sit and talk. Otherwise, they will go to court and we will go to court, and the issue will continue indefinitely,' he said.

NEET Protests and Student Demonstrations

On the nationwide protests over alleged irregularities in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), Jarkiholi called for accountability rather than political posturing. He criticised Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for not addressing the issue and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene. 'There may be lapses, and they should be corrected. Someone has to take responsibility. The issue should not have been allowed to escalate to this level,' he said. He also pushed back against attempts to label student protesters in New Delhi as anti-national, calling such characterisation 'not right.'

2028 Chief Ministership Speculation

Responding to remarks by his daughter and Congress Member of Parliament Priyanka Jarkiholi — who suggested her father could become Chief Minister in 2028 — Jarkiholi said it was premature to speculate. 'There is still time for that. Let us first successfully discharge the responsibilities we currently have,' he said. The Karnataka government is due for a leadership review ahead of the next state election cycle, making such speculation a recurring feature of the political landscape.