"There Are Lot Of Vacancies": DK Shivakumar On Row Over No Woman In Karnataka Cabinet

Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, has responded to criticism concerning the lack of women in the newly formed state cabinet. He acknowledged the concerns but pointed out a historical precedent for such an imbalance.

"Last time, too, there were no women in the first round," Shivakumar stated, drawing a parallel to the previous government's initial cabinet composition. He suggested that the current situation mirrors past practices, implying that the exclusion of women was not unprecedented.

Shivakumar's remarks came amidst public and political debate over the representation of women in the cabinet. While he did not offer a direct defense for the current all-male lineup, his comment served to contextualize the decision within the state's political history. He also indicated that the current cabinet is not necessarily final, leaving room for future inclusions.

The deputy chief minister's statement implies that while the initial formation might have overlooked female representation, there is an openness to addressing this in subsequent phases of cabinet expansion. This suggests that the current cabinet might not be the complete picture, and further appointments could rectify the gender imbalance.

“

Last time, too, there were no women in the first round