The demand raised, Deputy CM's post for a Muslim in Karnataka

As Janata Dal (Secular)’s HD Kumaraswamy prepares to take oath as Karnataka chief minister on Wednesday, a call has been made to appoint a Muslim person as deputy chief minister of the state. The demand came even as a tussle continues between the two coalition partners – the Congress and the JD(S) - over deputy chief minister’s post.

The Congress party, which is supporting junior partner JD(S) for CM’s post in Karnataka, is pitching for two deputy chief ministers’ posts in the government – one for a party leader and another for a representative from the Lingayat community.On Tuesday, a group of Muslim organisations spoke to the media and demanded that either seven-time Congress MLA Roshan Baig or any other leader from the Muslim community be made the



deputy CM in the new government that will be sworn in tomorrow.

The demand came as reported earlier today that an agreement had been reached between the Congress and the JD(S) under which the former will get the post of Assembly Speaker and a deputy chief minister.

Chief Minister-designate Kumaraswamy was in the national capital yesterday where he met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. The JD(S) leader invited the Congress leaders for his swearing-in, during the courtesy call.The two parties yesterday said they should forget the bitter past shared by the two and look to the future. On his part, Kumaraswamy promised a stable government in the southern state and a "long-term relationship" with the Congress.