Bengaluru: With KPCC chief Dr G. Parameshwar’s position seeming increasingly shaky, there is growing speculation that the state's caste census report may have been deliberatedly leaked to help him retain his gaddi.
With the report revealing that the scheduled castes form the biggest chunk in the state with a 1.08 crore population, followed by Muslims ( 70 lakh), Lingayat (65 lakh), Vokkaliga (60 lakh) and Kurubas( 45 lakh), Dalit leaders like Mallikarjun Kharge and Dr Parameshwar could now have an edge over others not only for the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief, but also Chief Minister, claim some party insiders. While the high command may have greater regard for Mr Kharge, Dr Parameshwar could get to retain his position as KPCC head as there are only a a few months to go for the assembly polls, they claim.
Said a senior leader from Delhi, “The caste census data seems to have been selectively leaked only to help Dr Parameshwar’s case. The numbers clearly speak in favour of continuing him as PCC president rather than have Mr Kharge replace him at this point, especially as the latter is aware of these games and wants no part in them. It’s also wrong to presume that Mr Kharge would want to give up his present position for a lesser post.”
Dr Parameshwar, who rushed to New Delhi recently to make his case to the high command, reportedly tried to convince AICC vice president, Rahul Gandhi about the need to have a Dalit face at the helm of affairs in Karnataka. “As AHINDA has been Congress’ traditional votebank , he warned him that not having a Dalit leader like him in a prominent position could cost the party with just 11 months to go for the state assembly elections,” said sources close to the KPCC chief.
Dalit CM? maybe
If the Congress returns to power on its own after next year’s Assembly polls. Dalit leaders, including Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar and Kolar MP K.H. Muniyappa could be in serious contention for the CM’s post considering the huge population of Scheduled Castes in the state. In such a situation, the Congress high command may consider Kharge as their first option and then perhaps Dr Parameshwar if they decide to replace incumbent CM Siddaramaiah. Another senior Dalit leader, K.H. Muniyappa, also enjoys the advantage of numbers within the SC community. But the problem is that Muniyappa has never proved or been able to display his leadership skills beyond doubt in his four-decade long political career, said sources.
