With the Congress high command in Delhi deliberating on its pick for the seat of Karnataka CM, in a new development, the Sunni Ulma Board and its leaders have now demanded that the post of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister ship be offered to winning candidates from the Muslim community.

“In about 72 constituencies, the Congress won purely because of the Muslims. We, as a community, have given a lot to the Congress. Now it is time we get something in return. We want a Muslim deputy chief minister and five ministers with good portfolios like Home, Revenue, and Education. It is the responsibility of the Congress to thank us with this. We held an emergency meeting in the Sunni Ulma board office to ensure all these are implemented," Karnataka Waqf Board chairman Shafi Sadi said.

The Waqf board chairman further said that it was not a new demand but something that had been put forth before elections itself. “We are the largest minority community apart from the SCs. We did not get the 30+ seats we wanted. But we at least want five Muslim ministers like during SM Krishna's period and now a Deputy CM. That is what we want,” he further added.

Notably, Congress’s sweeping victory in Karnataka was seen as a result of a large-scale consolidation of Muslim votes in favour of the party, including diversion of votes from the JD(S).

With allegations of minority appeasement against Congress rampant, including its manifesto promise to accord 6-13 per cent religious quota to the Muslims, it remains to be seen how the Congress high command and state functionaries react and decide over this issue.

The Congress however has responded to the story by saying that Sadi is BJP-backed.

When BJP leader Amit Malviya tweeted out Sadi's statement, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera responded to it by saying: "I understand your need to fake. But this is a bit too much. Shafi Sadi is backed by BJP".

Also read:

--Karnataka: Nine times the outgoing government was unapologetic about its stand on cultural and religious issues

--No restrictions on hijab in classrooms anymore? Here are five decisions of outgoing government that Congress looks set to reverse in Karnataka

Karnataka State Waqf Board Chief Shafi Sadi

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