Former Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi, a close associate of caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, on Saturday, 30 May said the Congress party would first elect its legislature leader at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting scheduled for 4 pm, with decisions on cabinet formation and the creation of Deputy Chief Minister posts to follow thereafter. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru amid intensifying discussions over the Karnataka leadership change, Jarkiholi urged patience and deference to the party high command.

Captain First, Cabinet Later

Jarkiholi was unambiguous about the sequence of events. 'Let the captain be appointed first. All other developments will follow. The party will decide who the captain is, and everyone will abide by the decision of the high command,' he said. The senior North Karnataka leader added that both caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar had already made their respective positions clear, acknowledging that 'there is naturally some confusion within the Congress party at this stage.'

Cabinet Size and Constitutional Limits

On the scramble for cabinet berths, Jarkiholi struck a cautionary note. He pointed out that only 34 members, including the Chief Minister, can be accommodated in the Karnataka cabinet under constitutional provisions. 'Legislators will make demands for cabinet berths, but ultimately, only 34 members, including the Chief Minister, can be accommodated. The constitutional limit cannot be exceeded,' he said. This constraint is expected to make cabinet formation one of the more contentious exercises following the CLP vote.

Deputy CM Posts and Coordination Committee

On the question of creating Deputy Chief Minister posts — a demand that has surfaced from multiple community groups and regional factions — Jarkiholi said no decision had been reached. 'There are discussions on whether Deputy Chief Minister posts should be created or not. The Congress party will take a decision on the issue,' he noted. Similarly, on reports that outgoing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had pushed for a formal coordination committee between the party organisation and the government, Jarkiholi said that too would be addressed after the CLP meeting concludes.

Senior vs Young Leaders in Cabinet

Asked about reports that some senior leaders could be eased out of the cabinet to make room for younger faces — and instead assigned organisational roles — Jarkiholi said balance was key. 'There should be both senior and young leaders in the cabinet. You cannot do away with experienced leaders. It should be a good combination,' he remarked. He added that he was not personally aware of any specific discussions around dropping senior ministers.

What Comes Next

Jarkiholi urged all stakeholders to await the outcome of the 4 pm CLP meeting before drawing conclusions. 'Let us wait until this evening or tomorrow. The CLP meeting has to take place first. The initial step itself is yet to be completed. Developments will take place one after another,' he said. On whether the swearing-in ceremony would be held on Monday, he said the final call rested with the party leadership. The Congress high command is widely expected to play a decisive role in resolving the leadership contest between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.