The race for the post of deputy chief minister (Dy CM) is heating up within the Congress, with former minister M B Patil on Tuesday staking claim for the job and demanding that the post be given to a legislator from northern Karnataka.

Several names are doing the rounds for the post of Dy CM post even as the Congress-JD(S) coalition government is still taking shape.

“I aspire for the post of Dy CM, but the party high command will take the final decision. If a southern Karnataka person gets the CM’s post, it’s right for a person from northern Karnataka to become DyCM,” Patil told reporters.

KPCC president Dr G Parameshwara is said to be the front-runner for the post of deputy chief minister.

“If Parameshwara is made Dy CM, there should be another Dy CM from northern Karnataka. We will request (former CM) Siddaramaiah to consider this,” Patil added.

Patil, who spearheaded the movement for a separate Lingayat religion, said there were 16 Lingayat legislators in the Congress and the community deserved adequate representation in the new administration.

The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha, which opposed the ‘religious minority’ status for Lingayats, has demanded its president and veteran Congress leader Shamanur Shivashankarappa be made Dy CM, along with five ministerial berths for Veerashaiva-Lingayat legislators.

“I’m okay with either Shivashankarappa or me becoming Dy CM,” Patil said.