With speculation of a major leadership change in Karnataka growing, Congress party members have been discussing the new government structure, possibly more than one Deputy Chief Minister position, and how to create a new government structure for the state. The Congress high command is working on creating three to four Deputy CM positions to facilitate the political and community representation of the state more broadly.
The move comes at a critical time for Karnataka as Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is to quit and Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar is expected to take over the top post. Since the power structure is likely to change in the Karnataka Congress, the party leadership would be focusing more on social equations going into the 2028 Assembly elections.
The Congress leadership wants to balance among Dalits, Lingayats, Muslims, and Kurubas by strategically distributing key positions. As part of this formula, several senior leaders are reportedly being considered for Deputy Chief Minister roles in the new cabinet.
Among the frontrunners is Priyank Kharge, son of Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge. Priyank Kharge, who has the responsibilities of Rural Development and IT-BT portfolios, is among the top candidates for the Deputy CM position. Moreover, the national leadership of the party is very much in favour of him and will be very likely to promote him to the position of Deputy CM if the multi-Deputy CM formula is adopted.
Another famous name in the discussion is Industries Minister M. B. Patil. Patil is a leader in the influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat community in North Karnataka. Party strategists are hopeful that he will be given a top post to strengthen Congress’s reach to Lingayat voters.
Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan is also a possibility for Deputy CM candidate. The Congress leadership is likely to reward him for his organisational role during the Kerala Assembly elections and for his efforts to build Muslim support for the party. Recent reports also point out that Zameer is speaking to community leaders to increase Muslim representation in the upcoming cabinet reshuffle.
There are also discussions on the political future of Dr Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Siddaramaiah. Political insiders believe the Congress high command might give Yathindra a key position, possibly a Deputy CM post, as they try to smooth Siddaramaiah’s transition from the Chief Minister’s role.
Sources also stated that K. C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary (Organisation), had contacted Priyank Kharge, M. B. Patil, and Zameer Ahmed Khan before the formal leadership change talks started in Delhi. He is believed to have briefed them about the high command’s plans and power-sharing arrangements.
Apart from these names, several other senior Congress leaders are also under consideration for Deputy Chief Minister positions. Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre, and Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait are among those whose names are currently being discussed within party circles.
If implemented, the multi-Deputy CM model would be one of the most significant political restructurings in Karnataka in recent years. Political observers think that the Congress leadership is trying to avoid factionalism and to strengthen its social alliance ahead of future elections.
Though Karnataka is in the process of being officially informed about the leadership transition, the possibility of having multiple Deputy Chief Ministers has already triggered intense political discussions across the state and within Congress ranks.
