Bengaluru: Who will be the next home minister of the state? If sources in the state Congress unit is believed, filling up of the home minister portfolio which is vacant since the resignation of KPCC president Dr. G Parameshwara has become a big headache for the party.

According to the sources, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wants to promote Ramanath Rai as the new home minister as he can work closely with Kempaiah, adviser to the Home Minister. But a section in the party high command wants energy minister D K Shivakumar as the new home minister.

“AICC leaders want to reward DKS with home portfolio for the decisive support he extended at the time of Gujarat Rajya Sabha election. But CM is aware of the fact that DKS may pose a challenge for his post. So he is reluctant to give the home portfolio to him. The home portfolio may allow the DKS to maintain a close relationship with MLAs,” said sources.

Fissures in the relationship:

According to sources, CM is not happy with DKS following his recent statement at a party meeting in Magadi that he is also CM candidate after 2018 state assembly election. “Since then CM and DKS are not in good terms,” sources added.