Bengaluru: Home minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dr G. Parameshwar seems to have indicated to the party high command that he may prefer to continue as PCC president if he was asked to choose between the party post and the cabinet berth.
There is a buzz in party circles that immediately after the April 9 by-polls the party central leadership may pick a new face for PCC president. Dr Parameshwar throwing his hat in the ring has given a twist to the selection process.
Dr Parameshwar has been having a rough ride ever since he took over the home ministry with the Tipu Jayanti violence in Kodagu and the Mangaluru lathicharge on a PFI rally earlier this week, adding to his woes. He knows that he will earn a bad name in the long run if he continues to hold the home portfolio and also reportedly suspects the subtle intervention of the CM’s camp in the affairs of his department which has annoyed him all the more. So, he has chosen to make a safe exit from the government which is facing anti-incumbency before the 2018 polls and continue to head the party as PCC chief, party sources confided.
Though energy minister, D.K. Shivakumar has been maintaining that he is not interested in a party post, party sources reveal that he is very keen on becoming PCC president. The rumours in party circles is that he has set some conditions before the high command that he should be given a free hand in the candidate selection process for the 2018 elections if he is chosen as the new PCC president.
Since Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah and almost all senior leaders in the Congress party are opposed to Mr Shivakumar taking over the party, the high command may settle for Dr Parameshwar unless of course it finds another more charismatic leader, sources said.
