Chief Minister Siddaramaiah addresses anxiety among government job aspirants, cites 2.64 lakh vacancies inherited, promises a time-bound and transparent recruitment drive
Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah took serious note of the ongoing protests by government job aspirants in Dharwad, assuring candidates that their concerns are being heard and addressed with urgency. Acknowledging the frustration among youth over delayed recruitments, the Chief Minister said his government remains firmly committed to restoring transparency, credibility, and efficiency in the state’s hiring process.
The statement comes amid growing demonstrations by aspirants demanding faster recruitment to vacant government posts.
Over 2.64 Lakh Vacancies Inherited, Says CM
According to the Chief Minister, when the present government assumed office, more than 2.64 lakh government posts were vacant across departments.
“Behind every application is a dream, a family’s hope, years of hard work, and an aspiration to serve Karnataka. As Chief Minister, I want every student to know that your concerns are heard, and your future matters deeply to us,” Siddaramaiah stated.
He attributed the massive backlog to what he described as prolonged inaction by the previous BJP government, alleging that timely recruitments were not initiated and no structured roadmap was created to fill vacancies.
The Chief Minister further claimed that recruitment irregularities and corruption scandals between 2019 and 2023 eroded trust in the system and contributed significantly to delays.
Legal Hurdles and Internal Reservation Issues
Siddaramaiah also clarified that certain recruitment processes were temporarily stalled due to legal challenges related to internal reservation policies, which were under consideration before the courts.
He emphasised that the government chose to act within the constitutional framework rather than rush decisions that could potentially jeopardize the careers of thousands of candidates.
40,000 Recruitments Completed in 2.5 Years
Highlighting progress made under his administration, the Chief Minister stated that over 40,000 recruitments have been completed in the last 2.5 years across various departments.
Recognizing the hardship faced by long-waiting aspirants, the government has relaxed the upper age limit by more than five years for upcoming recruitments to ensure deserving candidates are not excluded due to systemic delays.
“This is not merely about filling posts; it is about rebuilding administrative capacity, restoring fairness in recruitment, and ensuring equal opportunity for every deserving candidate,” he added.
Recruitment to Be Accelerated in Time-Bound Manner
The Chief Minister assured that the process of filling the remaining vacancies is ongoing and will be accelerated in a transparent, systematic, and time-bound manner. He stated that administrative and policy measures are being strengthened to prevent future backlogs.
Appealing to aspirants to remain patient and focused, Siddaramaiah said Karnataka’s youth are the architects of the state’s future and that the government stands firmly with them “not just in words, but in action.”
The protests in Dharwad have drawn statewide attention, with aspirants demanding clear recruitment timelines and accountability from authorities.
