Outgoing Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra has thrown his hat into the ring for a cabinet berth, with senior leaders favouring his induction into the cabinet. Yathindra, a member of the state legislative council, rejected suggestions that his father had sought a cabinet berth for him during discussions with the party leadership in Delhi.
Leaders familiar with the discussions said the possibility of a cabinet berth for Yathindra formed part of the original power-sharing understanding reached in 2023, under which Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar agreed to rotate the chief minister's post midway through the five-year term.
According to leaders aware of the negotiations, discussions have narrowed around the possibility of appointing two deputy chief ministers, with MB Patil and Dalit leader Priyank Kharge emerging as leading contenders. Party leaders had initially explored the possibility of appointing up to four deputy chief ministers to accommodate regional and social considerations.
