“We are taking all necessary administrative and policy measures to recruit for more positions in the coming years and to strengthen recruitment institutions so that such backlogs do not recur,” the Chief Minister said in a statement, adding that the ongoing process to fill vacancies will be accelerated in a transparent, systematic and time-bound manner, he added.
Taking note of the protests by government job aspirants in Dharwad, Siddaramaiah said he understood the “anxiety, frustration and uncertainty” among candidates. “Behind every application is a dream, a family’s hope, years of hard work and an aspiration to serve Karnataka,” he said.
The CM said that when the Congress assumed office in May 2023, around 2.64 lakh government posts were vacant, blaming the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime for the backlog.
“It is deeply unfortunate that BJP opposition leaders are choosing to mislead innocent students to serve their narrow political interests. Instead of encouraging aspirants to stay focused on their preparation and future, they are attempting to instigate unrest,” he said.
According to him, recruitment irregularities and corruption scandals between 2019 and 2023 eroded trust in the system and led to a large backlog of vacancies. “Our government is committed to restoring credibility, transparency and stability in the recruitment process,” he added.
Siddaramaiah said several recruitment processes had to be temporarily stalled due to legal challenges related to internal reservation, which are under judicial consideration. “As a government committed to constitutional propriety and social justice, we chose to act responsibly within the framework of law rather than rush decisions that could jeopardise the careers of thousands of candidates.” Over the past two-and-a-half years, more than 40,000 recruitments have been completed across departments, he said. Acknowledging delays faced by aspirants, the government has relaxed the upper age limit by over five years for upcoming recruitment to ensure candidates are not excluded due to systemic delays.
The government’s approach, the CM said, goes beyond merely filling posts and focuses on rebuilding administrative capacity, restoring fairness in recruitment and ensuring equal opportunity across regions and communities.
He appealed to aspirants to continue focusing on education and skill development. “Karnataka’s youth are the architects of our future. We will ensure opportunities are expanded, dreams are protected and public service remains a noble and attainable path for every deserving young mind,” he said.
Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Arvind Bellad (BJP) had earlier questioned the government’s position, claiming that 2.84 lakh posts remain vacant due to fiscal constraints. “If the state can fund political priorities, why can’t it honour recruitment commitments already made? Or is fiscal stress just a convenient cover for political inaction?” he asked.
