Will Karnataka have woman minister? Shivakumar reacts to Cabinet rejig criticism

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the state would soon have a woman minister, amid opposition criticism over the lack of female representation in the recently expanded Cabinet. Speaking at the India Today Karnataka Roundtable, Shivakumar, in his first interview since taking over as chief minister two months ago, underscored that the Congress was committed to ensuring women's representation in the Cabinet.

"We will definitely have a woman minister soon, probably in the next 2-3 days," the outspoken Karnataka Chief Minister said.

ROW OVER NO WOMEN MINISTER IN KARNATAKA

Following a protracted tussle with his bete noire Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, the Congress's crisis manager and a master strategist, was sworn in as the chief minister along with 13 ministers on June 3.

Nearly two months later, Shivakumar expanded his Cabinet by inducting 19 ministers, taking its total strength to 33.

While the Cabinet had social balance, with the inclusion of Lingayats, SCs, and Muslims, the glaring absence of a woman minister attracted vehement criticism from the BJP, especially amid Rahul Gandhi's emphasis on women's empowerment.

Moreover, the Congress has also gone hammer and tongs against the BJP for delaying the implementation of 33% women's representation in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.

Reacting to it, Shivakumar emphasised that the Congress was committed to ensuring greater representation for women.

"The Congress is committed to the ideology," he stressed, underlining that it was Sonia Gandhi who had moved the resolution on women's reservation.

Shivakumar, however, did not disclose the name of the woman MLA likely to be inducted.

"There was a name that was cleared, but ultimately some issue was there. So in the next couple of days, you will have a woman minister in Karnataka," he said.

Initially, the Congress released a list of 20 MLAs to be sworn in as ministers. It featured the name of first-time MLC Gayathri Shantigowda as the sole woman minister.

However, she did not take the oath at the last minute amid a controversy over her candidature. A report in the Indian Express said the controversy stemmed from Siddaramaiah backing his former Cabinet colleague Umashree for the woman's berth.

While both the women MLCs are OBCs, Siddaramaiah is reported to have backed Umashree, who belongs to the Devanga community, on account of her prior experience in administration.

This controversy eventually led to only 19 ministers being inducted into the Shivakumar Cabinet.

HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED FOR SHIVAKUMAR?

Asked how his governance model would be different from that of Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar skirted a direct answer. Instead, Shivakumar, known for his sharp political acumen, said he does not believe in factions or camps.

"I don't believe in any camp. We have only one camp - the Congress camp," was his blunt response.

Has life changed for Chief Minister Shivakumar? "I am a hurried man now," he said. Shivakumar said his priority now was to provide good governance to the people of Karnataka.

"Last time, you saw me with a lot of patience. I have to provide good governance... India will grow through Karnataka. We have to build the party. We have to set an example," Shivakumar said.