Efficiency should be only criterion for ministerial berths, not caste: KC Kondaiah

Congress leader K.C Kondaiah is remembered in political circles as a staunch loyalist of the Nehru-Gandhi family and the  Congress, who gave up his Ballari Lok Sabha seat for AICC president Mrs Sonia Gandhi in the 13th Lok Sabha election and was instrumental in her win from Ballari against BJP senior leader Ms Sushma Swaraj in 1999. Mr Kondaiah again shot into the limelight when he launched a political fight against the once-powerful Ballari Reddy brothers over their alleged involvement in the iron ore mining scam. At the peak of former BJP minister Janardhan Reddy's political hegemony over the 'Republic of Ballari,' Mr Kondaiah asserted that he was a 'politician in exile' from ‘Ballari' and required s visa to enter his homeland! A two-time Lok Sabha and one time Rajya Sabha member, Mr Kondaiah is a three time  member of the  Legislative Council too. The 67-year-old businessman turned politician, spoke about the political scenario in an interview with Deccan Chronicle. Here are excerpts.

How did the Congress manage to bring a temporary end to the recent dissent?
The dissent arose because of the complaint that some ministers were interfering in the political affairs out of their home districts. The Belgavi PLD Bank election was the primary cause for this dissent where it was alleged that water resources minister DK Shivakumar was interfering in support of newly elected Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar. This was opposed by the Jarkiholi brothers.  Some disgruntled newly elected legislators joined the Jarkiholi brothers thinking that they would benefit by getting a ministerial berth or a chairman post of a coveted board/ corporation. However, the Congress high command was successful in negotiating a truce between the warring groups. Indeed, this same set of disgruntled legislators, soon after the formation of the JDS-Congress coalition government had first backed MB Patil and later, HK Patil. But the high command did not entertain them. It's a fact that at least 18 MLAs should resign to topple this government through 'Operation Kamala' kind of tactics . But, MLAs too are aware of the fact that getting reelected is not an easy task in the present political scenario. It's clear that the high command will not entertain blackmail and pressure tactics.

Compared to the previous bout of dissent, the situation has reached a stage where MLAs themselves are launching dissident activity without a big leader. Why?
Soon after the formation of the coalition government, senior leaders HK Patil and MB Patil had raised the banner of revolt. Then, AICC President Rahul Gandhi summoned them and clearly told them that his only objective is stop the BJP entering the South and hence, he had supported JD(S). If this is not clear to senior leaders of Karnataka, then they are free to go for fresh assembly elections since the Congress is still short of 30 plus seats to form the government. The reality is that there is no public support for BJP leader BS Yeddyurappa's 'Operation Kamala' and moreover they (BJP leaders) failed in three-four such attempts including the recent BBMP mayoral election. Even MLAs are not interested in switching sides and facing elections afresh at this juncture. Hence, automatically such disgruntled legislators will toe the party line.

There are only six berths vacant for Congress in the coalition government but the aspirants are more than 20. How do you think the party can handle this?
Today or tomorrow definitely the cabinet will be expanded. Once it is expanded, there is nothing more to do whether people are disgruntled or not. If they go against the party line, the high command may prefer elections afresh. They will not entertain any kind of dissent. For example in Ballari district, Congress legislators Anand Singh, Nagendra, Bhima Naik are otherl newcomers had joined the party ahead of the 2018 assembly polls while Kampli MLA Ganesh had fought against the Congress candidate in the previous  election. Most disgruntled legislators are either new entrants or first or second time legislators.

But there are different challenges—regional, old versus new and the caste equation.
 See we can't expect a 100 percent balance, but we will do it to the extent possible. If we would have got a full majority to form the government on our own strength, the party would have been in a position to a strike a balance.

Coming to Nagendra, when there are loyal and seasoned veterans like you in the Congress, how can newcomers demand a berth?
In the present political scenario, at the time of allocation of tickets for the assembly elections, every party looks at the winnability prospects of a candidate in SC/ST reserved constituencies and in case of general constituencies, the statewide caste equation is considered. But, when it comes to formation of the cabinet, eligibility, efficiency and seniority must be a criteria to make legislators  ministers and not merely one's caste. If you make a legislator minister based on his caste, he will certainly not bring 100 percent of his community people into the party fold. Hence, it's basically a wrong political concept. Earlier, talented people and intellectuals were brought into the Cabinet irrespective of their caste. In 1991, then prime minister PV Narasimha Rao  brought in retired RBI Governor Manmohan Singh as his Finance Minister wherein only the latter's talent was the criteria. 

The Legislative Council in Karnataka is just like the Rajya Sabha. Under NDA rule, 20 to 22 Rajya Sabha members were made Central Ministers and were given key portfolios. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy must use the talented leaders in the Council to deliver efficient governnance instead of simply satisfying legislators and going by caste. It's a wrong political concept.

The party seems to be giving more importance to turncoats.
 I'm a disciplined soldier of the Congress. I would like to say that efficiency must be the only criteria. Have you seen a  roaster scheme being applied while  selecting a 11 member cricket team ? Is there any caste based reservation for selection of players? Similarly, the motto of the government must be to build a team based on efficiency.

But, you appears to be unusually quiet. Have you raised this in your party forum?
My silence is the answer. Why should I beg for a ministerial berth? Let the CM and Congress high command decide who should be inducted.

There is a strong view that the tough competition to become Ballari in-charge minister is because of the huge mining rehabilitation funds to the tune of 13,000 crore which is likely to be released with the consent of the Supreme Court.
I don't want to comment on this. But, I'm closely monitoring the  Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation exercise and have  deputed an expert team to see that mining affected areas get their rehabilitation benefits.

The Election Commission has announced the date for the  Ballari Lok Sabha bypoll....
 I feel the EC should have reconsidered holding this by-election, since the elected MP’s term is less than six months. Anyway, there are aspirants to contest this bypoll. Party workers want a local leader to get  the ticket, not an outsider.