Bengaluru: Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah might have lost the battle to get his nominee appointed as KPCC president but in the process, he seems to have won the war.
The party high command in unequivocal terms said on Wednesday that the next assembly elections would be fought under the leadership of Siddaramaiah anointing him as the CM candidate if the Congress is voted to power.
In the statement issued here on Wednesday, AICC general secretary, Janardhan Dwivedi said that Dr G. Parameshwar will continue as PCC president. However, the AICC also made it clear that he should resign from the state cabinet immediately. Dr Parameshwar is likely to resign as home minister on Thursday, sources said.
The AICC's categorical statement on fighting elections under Siddaramaiah's leadership assumes significance in the context of a series of statements made by party leader in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge and KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar who in the past, had maintained that the next assembly polls would be fought under a collective leadership.
Former IT/ BT minister S.R. Patil who was appointed as KPCC working president, will be in charge of north Karnataka whereas another working president, Dinesh Gundurao has been given the responsibility of south Karnataka. This is a victory of sorts for the CM, as he an partially control the KPCC through Patil and Gundurao, who are considered close to him.
Kolar MP K.H. Muniyappa who was eyeing the PCC president’s post, has been made a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee. This is to send a message to the SC-left (untouchables) that the Congress respect them. Similarly, Satish Jarkiholi who was cut up with his friend-turned-foe, Siddaramaiah, has been made AICC secretary.
With this, the Congress has sent a clear signal to the Scheduled Tribes that it would not neglect their contributions.
‘They complained but top brass backed me’
Indirectly attacking senior congress leader H. Vishwanath at Hunsur in Mysuru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, "Some people wrote a letter and complained against me to the AICC to remove me from the CM’s post but the high command said I am pro-poor and I should be allowed to continue."
Speaking after laying the foundation stone to projects worth Rs 400 crore at Hunsur, he said, "I have given Rs 1500 crore to Hunsur taluk in the past four years and I will give more funds. Some people may come here to contest (it is said that Vishwanath may join JD(S) and contest from Hunsur). But people should remember that they are not from Hunsur taluk. If people comment about me, it is out of jealousy but they cannot snatch power from me. I have worked with five CMs and I have presented 12 budgets. I feel proud that we have given corruption free, transparent governance," he said.
Speaking to mediapersons at Bylkuppe in Periyapatna, he said, "Let Yeddyurappa (BJP state president) approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi and get Rs 42,000 crore worth farm loans waived by nationalised banks, we will waive Rs 10,000 crore of farm loan taken from co-operative banks." He also attacked the cattle ban rules saying the Centre was now targeting food habits.
