Sore over denial of cabinet berths, senior Congress leaders skip swearing-in ceremony

Bengaluru: The swearing-in ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru witnessed the absence of several senior Congress leaders who were left disappointed after being denied cabinet berths. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot administered the oath-taking ceremony of 24 ministers in the new government, while some prominent party members chose to boycott the event.

The Congress leadership, faced with difficult choices, ultimately turned down the demands of various senior legislators, including B K Hariprasad, M Krishnappa, T B Jayachandra, and R V Deshpande, among others, who had aspired for cabinet positions. Despite their efforts, most of them left disheartened and did not attend the swearing-in ceremony.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had advocated for Jayachandra and Krishnappa to secure cabinet posts, while Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar supported Hariprasad’s inclusion. However, after three days of deliberations in Delhi, the Congress high command made the decision to deny cabinet berths to these three leaders.

One of the main factors contributing to this decision is believed to be the consideration of age, as these senior leaders may not contest elections in the future. The party opted to provide opportunities to fresh faces instead. Considering the age factor, T B Jayachandra is 63 years old, M Krishnappa is 70, and Hariprasad is 68.

In contrast, R V Deshpande, the 76-year-old MLA from Haliyal assembly constituency who was elected nine times was also denied a cabinet berth. He however, attended the swearing-in ceremony and expressed his contentment with the Congress’ decision.Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar assured that everyone would have their chances for suitable opportunities. Reflecting on his own experience, he stated that even he had waited patiently for the right opportunity.

The absence of senior Congress leaders at the swearing-in ceremony highlights the disappointment and discontent that arose from the denial of cabinet berths. It also underscores the delicate balancing act that political parties often face when distributing positions of power and ensuring representation across various factions. The decisions made in this regard play a crucial role in shaping party dynamics and maintaining harmony among members.