BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, fighting veteran Congress leaders with his back to the wall, has been backed by former Union minister and senior Dalit leader, K.H. Muniyappa, on the issue of change in leadership of the two-and-half year-old government.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, sources close to Mr Muniyappa said the veteran MP has met top central leaders of the party, and opposed the idea of replacing Mr Siddaramaiah with a Dalit leader. In fact, he wanted Mr Siddaramaiah to complete his five-year term, sources added. Sources said Mr Muniyappa told these top leaders that he was ready to head the state unit. He reportedly told the high command that he belonged to a very oppressed community and should be given an opportunity to head KPCC as he was elected seven times to Lok Sabha. “Mr Muniyappa is supporting Mr Siddaramaiah with the intention of landing the KPCC chief’s post. If a Dalit leader becomes CM, he will not get the opportunity to head KPCC. So, he is backing Mr Siddaramaiah,” sources added. He belongs to Madiga community within the SC bloc, so far identified with the BJP, as compared to top leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Dr G. Parameshwar belong to Chalavadi community. Mr Muniyappa recently held a convention at Palace Grounds where his sup
porters adopted a resolution demanding that he made CM. “Mr Muniyappa has been a critic of Mr Kharge and Dr Parameshwar and therefore has decided to throw his lot with Mr Siddaramaiah. Mr Muniyappa reminded the leader that it was Mr Kharge who failed to ensure the party’s victory when he was KPCC president in 2008,” sources added.
Besides, Mr Muniyappa has contended that installation of a Dalit leader as CM would trigger confrontation between BCs and Dalits, thus resulting in loss of vote share of the party.
