G Parameshwara warned that if a Dalit is not made deputy CM, it will become a problem for the Congress
Bengaluru:
Senior Congress leader G Parameshwara today warned the party’s central leadership that if a Dalit is not given the post of Deputy Chief Minister (DCM), it would have adverse reactions and would spell trouble for the party.
G Parameshwara, 71, a Dalit, was the deputy chief minister during the Congress-JD(S) coalition government led by HD Kumaraswamy. He was also the longest serving Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief (eight years).
His veiled warning came hours after the Congress announced Siddaramaiah as the chief minister and DK Shivakumar as its sole deputy.
Asked about Mr. Shivakumar allegedly putting a condition to the leadership that he should be the sole DCM, Mr. Parameshwara said, “What he has said may be true from Mr. Shivakumar’s point of view, but the high command’s view Should be different. High command has to decide, we expect them (high command) to…’
On whether injustice has been done to the Dalits by not giving the DCM post to the community, he said that people, especially the Dalit community have high hopes.
“Understanding these expectations, our leadership will have to take a decision. If it doesn’t, naturally there will be reactions to it. I don’t need to say it. Instead of realizing it later, if they do it now It will be better if they rectify. Otherwise it may become a cause of trouble for the party. I would like to ask them to understand this,” said Mr. Parameshwara.
He said that he is interested in both the posts of CM and DCM.
He said, “I was both chief minister and deputy chief ministerial candidate, but now we have to follow the decision of the high command, so let’s see what they do in the coming days. For now they have announced about both, we do.” Will have to wait and see how they will do justice during the cabinet expansion.
Talking to reporters here, he said, “The high command has announced the CM and DCM. Siddaramaiah is becoming the CM for the second time from our party, we expect him to provide good administration. People’s expectations from us are huge, Because we promised them.” Good governance in our manifesto. I welcome this decision and hope that they will take all of us into confidence to give good administration.”
Mr. Parameshwara, representing Koratagere in Tumakuru district, had lost the 2013 assembly elections when he was the KPCC president. He was then a contender for the post of chief minister, but after losing he was made an MLC and a minister in the Siddaramaiah government (2013–2018).
Responding to a question that “none of them” (Dalits) demanded the DCM post with a strong voice, Mr. Parameshwara said that a strong voice does not mean shouting with the demand.
“We have asked (for the posts)… I hope the high command will look into it as people have voted us and contributed to the Congress coming to power. We have to keep that in mind and Gotta move on.” Said.
Earlier in the day, ahead of the official announcement by the Congress to nominate Mr. Siddaramaiah and Mr. Shivakumar as Chief Minister and Mr. Shivakumar as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister respectively, Mr. Parameshwara, in response to a question whether he would seek the DCM post, said, What is there to ask in this? They should give. As I was the DCM earlier, I expect them to give. Let’s see…”
Objecting to Mr. Shivakumar’s reported demand that he alone should be the Deputy Chief Minister, he said, “One person alone should be in power (and) others should not be, this is not a right stand. Everyone has come to power.” have contributed to the party. All. communities have contributed and naturally justice should be done to them.”
Pointing out that Dalits, Lingayats and minorities have stood firmly with the Congress party in the elections, he said the Congress has won 35 of the 51 Dalit seats.
“Also, two general seats have been won by candidates from the community, so the total number is 37,” he said. Dalit votes have made an impact in many other areas.
In the May 10 elections to the 224-member assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) led by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)