Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Thursday, 27 August openly acknowledged that he had aspired to become Chief Minister of Karnataka, confirming that former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had indeed proposed his name to the Congress high command for the top post. Parameshwara, however, made clear he has accepted the party leadership's decision to appoint D.K. Shivakumar as Chief Minister and pledged full cooperation.

Parameshwara's Admission

Speaking to reporters, Parameshwara said, 'It is not a question of position. It is the decision of the high command. Whatever decision the high command takes, we all have to accept. Yes, it is true. I also wanted to become the CM, but that does not mean it is going to create any issues.'

He further confirmed that Siddaramaiah had personally conveyed his name to the party leadership. 'Yes, I was told that Siddaramaiah went for the discussion and expressed that I should be made the CM. But now that Shivakumar has been made CM, we all have to cooperate and work together,' Parameshwara said.

Siddaramaiah's Remarks That Triggered the Debate

The disclosure comes after a video of Siddaramaiah's remarks at a seminar on internal reservation went viral on social media on Wednesday. During the seminar held on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah had pointedly asked the audience: 'Who got the post of Deputy Chief Minister for G. Parameshwara?' — drawing applause and sparking discussion within Congress circles.

Siddaramaiah recalled that an earlier proposal had envisaged creating four to five Deputy Chief Minister posts, and asked who had insisted that Parameshwara alone be elevated to the sole Deputy CM position. The audience credited Siddaramaiah both times, a moment that has since been widely interpreted as a signal of his continued political influence within the Karnataka government.

The Broader Political Context

The exchange has reignited speculation about the internal power dynamics of the Karnataka Congress government. Siddaramaiah's remarks came during an interaction on his contribution to the cause of social justice, after an audience member raised the absence of a Scheduled Caste Chief Minister in Karnataka and urged him to launch an agitation on the issue.

Siddaramaiah deflected calls for him to lead such a movement, saying he could not do so alone and dismissing the suggestion that he was equivalent to the party high command. Nonetheless, political observers note that his willingness to publicly claim credit for Parameshwara's appointment signals a renewed assertiveness following his exit as Chief Minister.

Parameshwara's Position Going Forward

Parameshwara, one of Karnataka Congress's most prominent Dalit leaders, had previously expressed disappointment at being passed over for the Chief Minister's post. His latest remarks, however, signal a deliberate shift toward institutional loyalty.

'Whatever decision the high command has taken so far, we have all accepted, including me. We will work together and strengthen the hands of the Chief Minister, thereby strengthening the Congress party,' he said.

He also underlined that the state government must implement all programmes and promises announced by the Congress party and fulfil its mandate before returning to the electorate. With Shivakumar now firmly at the helm, how the Siddaramaiah-Parameshwara-Shivakumar triangle navigates competing ambitions will be a defining subplot of Karnataka politics in the months ahead.