The day after much-awaited Karnataka Cabinet rejig, a senior Congress leader and former Union Minister MV Rajasekharan reiterated his demand for a Dalit to the post of Chief Minister.
Speaking after paying floral tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi at the KPCC office Rajasekharan, a former Union Minister, expressed his desire to see G Parameshwara as the Chief Minister of the State.
He said, “I would like to see a Dalit as the Chief Minister in the State during my lifetime. Congress party is the only political outfit in the country which can accommodate the aspirations of all the sections in the society”.
Siddaramaiah after hectic parleys with high command expanded his Cabinet on Friday and inducted G Parameshwara, a Dalit leader, A Manju, a vokkaliga leader from Hassan, Vinay Kulkarni, a lingayat from Dharward and Manohar Tahasildhar belongs to Balija community from Haveri. But the old guard in the Congress feels that it is time to appoint a Dalit as the Chief Minister of the State to keep party’s position intact in the State. However, a senior Congress leader said that by inducting four into Cabinet Siddaramaiah can’t quell the rebellion in the party as weakened high command has no decisive role in the party affairs in the State.
In another development, Home Minister G Parameshwara, who is also the Member of the legislative Council, is expected to be appointed as the House leader, replacing the incumbent IT and BT Minister S R Patil. According to official sources, Parameshwara is expected to claim the post considering his seniority. Party sources said that the Chief Minister is not keen on replacing S R Patil now as the latter is expected to replace Parameshwara as the new KPCC president, who completed his five-year term. S R Patil had recently told reporters that as a true soldier of the party, he was ready to shoulder any responsibility assigned to him by the Central leaders.
Meanwhile the new Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara expressed concern over increased communal tensions and moral policing.
He said, “My top priority will be to curb communal forces in the State. Police personnel who fail to take appropriate action against moral policing will be held responsible and dealt with.”
“Communal forces have been increasingly plaguing the State and incidents of moral policing are also on the rise. This has happened because of the style of functioning of some police officers,” he claimed.
“In coastal and Malnad regions and in some other parts of the State, some outfits affiliated to the Sangh Parivar are oppressing and assaulting people of other communities, minorities and Dalits in the name of religion. Those who consume beef are being attacked. People are finding it difficult to lead a peaceful life,” he said, adding, “In spite of some many incidents, some police officers are still sitting quiet with their hands tied.”