'Congress high command to decide on woman minister's induction', says CM Shivakumar

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said the Congress high command would take the final decision on inducting a woman minister into the state Cabinet, adding that he had already submitted a proposal to the party leadership in New Delhi.

Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar said he would discuss the matter with senior Congress leaders when summoned, but could not confirm whether the issue would be taken up during his visit to the national capital on Monday.

"I don't know whether it will be possible to discuss tomorrow, but I have already placed the proposal before the leadership in Delhi. They said they would call me. There is a need, I will do it. I will discuss it at the appropriate time," he said.

His remarks came amid growing demands for women's representation in the Karnataka Cabinet, which currently has no woman minister.

𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝

Shivakumar had earlier indicated that a woman would be inducted into the Cabinet before the next session of the state legislature, scheduled from December 2 to 11 at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha in Belagavi.

The Chief Minister is facing demands to fill one of the two vacant ministerial positions with a woman legislator.

On August 3, Shivakumar expanded his Cabinet by inducting 19 ministers. Two positions are currently vacant following the resignation of B Nagendra, who was facing corruption allegations.

The Chief Minister said the proposal had been communicated to the Congress leadership and that further discussions would take place at an appropriate time.

He is scheduled to visit Delhi on Monday to attend the launch of Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi's autobiography and return to Bengaluru the same evening.

𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

Asked about maintenance issues at the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha ahead of the legislature's winter session, Shivakumar said Assembly Speaker G S Patil would examine the matter.

"The Speaker will take care of it. I will ask the DC (Deputy Commissioner) to look into what the problems are," he said.

The upcoming session is expected to provide an opportunity for the government to address legislative and administrative matters, with preparations underway at the Belagavi venue.

𝐌𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐮 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝

Responding to questions about the proposed Mekedatu project and opposition from Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar said he had already raised the matter with the Central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He maintained that Karnataka would continue pursuing the project while respecting the legal process.

"We have to respect the law of this country. Whatever the court says, we have to implement it. Politically, they may oppose it, and they are free to express their views," he said.

Shivakumar added that Tamil Nadu had its own legal team and was entitled to present its objections, but Karnataka would continue working towards its objectives.

The Chief Minister also addressed questions about his interactions with Modi and whether their cordial relationship had caused discomfort among BJP leaders in Karnataka.

He said respect for constitutional offices should not be confused with political agreement.

"I have to give the PM respect for his position, just as he has to respect the CM. I had said earlier too that we could fight politically during elections but should work together on development. We will continue to do that," he said.

𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬

On the pending by-election to the Hiriyur Assembly constituency, Shivakumar said the Congress was preparing for the contest while awaiting the Election Commission's announcement of the poll schedule.

He said he would visit Hiriyur on November 21 to participate in a Praja Seva programme and interact with residents about their grievances.

"I was expecting the elections to be announced, but it has not happened yet. We have got time. I will go and listen to people's grievances," he said.

The Chief Minister added that officials had been instructed to make the necessary arrangements for the public outreach programme.

Shivakumar reiterated that the decision on Cabinet induction rested with the Congress high command and that he would take the matter forward after consultations with the party leadership.