Dharwad protest over vacancies: CM Siddaramaiah assures action, cites 2.64 lakh posts vacant

Bengaluru : In the wake of a massive protest by thousands of job aspirants in Dharwad demanding the filling up of vacant government posts, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said the issue has been taken up seriously by his government.

Stating that he understands the anxiety, frustration and uncertainty faced by government job seekers, the Chief Minister said every application represents a dream, a family’s aspiration, years of hard work and a desire to serve Karnataka. “As Chief Minister, each of your concerns is on our radar,” he said.

In a post on X, Siddaramaiah noted that when his government assumed office, more than 2.64 lakh government posts were lying vacant. “This is not a problem that arose overnight. It is the result of long-term neglect by the previous Bharatiya Janata Party government, which failed to formulate a proper plan to fill vacancies,” he alleged.

He further accused BJP leaders of attempting to mislead students instead of encouraging them to focus on their preparation and future prospects. According to him, recruitment irregularities and corruption cases reported between 2019 and 2023 eroded public trust in the system and contributed to delays in filling vacant posts. “Our government is committed to restoring credibility and transparency in the recruitment process,” he said.

The Chief Minister also pointed out that certain recruitment processes had to be temporarily halted due to ongoing court proceedings related to internal reservation. “As a government committed to constitutional values and social justice, we chose to act responsibly within the legal framework rather than take hasty decisions that could jeopardise the future of thousands of candidates,” he stated.

Highlighting the steps taken so far, Siddaramaiah said that over 40,000 appointments have been made across various departments in the past two-and-a-half years. Acknowledging the hardships faced by candidates due to prolonged delays, he announced that the upper age limit for upcoming recruitments has been relaxed by more than five years.

Assuring that the remaining vacancies will be filled in a fast and transparent manner, the Chief Minister said necessary measures would be taken in the coming years to accelerate recruitment. He urged youth to stay confident and focus on education, skill development and preparation. “The youth of Karnataka are the architects of our future. Your hard work inspires us. My government stands firmly with you not just in words, but in action,” he added.