CM Siddaramaiah for 8 per cent Kurubas, none for 18 per cent Dalits!
BENGALURU: If the Kurubas, who comprise just 7-8 per cent of the state’s population can have a Chief Minister of their own (Mr Siddaramaiah), why not the Dalits who number 18-20 %?
This may be a crude casteist argument but it could be the best bet for leaders like KPCC president Dr G. Parameshwar or senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge perhaps, to keep their CM hopes alive. What has come to Dr Parameshwar’s aid is the leaked report of the caste census, which has helped him buttress his arguments, albeit in an indirect manner.
Not to be outdone by the Dalit camp, Siddu loyalists are quietly readying a road map to create a rift in the Dalit camp by roping in a battery of writers, intellectuals and Madiga community leaders. Reason-The Madigas, according to the caste census, are a larger sect than the Chalavadi community among Dalits to which Dr Parameshwar belongs!
"We will try to exploit the disunity among Madiga and Chalavadi sects to check the push for a Dalit CM. Madigas are planning an agitation demanding internal reservation among Dalits, which could worsen the rift and help us," a source said.
A senior leader in the CM's camp revealed that Dr Parameshwar seems to have taken a calculated risk by relaunching the Dalit CM debate in the public mind. "Surprisingly, he is using caste census data in a bid to gauge the public response, His move has already triggered a debate among Dalits," the source explained.
Dr Parameshwar, despite losing the Assembly polls from Koratagere in 2013, had been making relentless efforts for the past two years with an eye on the CM slot. "He may claim that he is merely raising the pitch for a public debate but it is clear that his is voicing his aspirations," the source added.
George rules out change of guard
Irked over media reports on the leadership of CM Siddaramaiah being questioned within the party, Bengaluru City Development Minister K.J. George ruled out any possibility of a change of guard in the state. Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Mr George asked reporters to name the ‘sources', which were spreading such rumours. At one stage, he said there was a conspiracy to stab Mr Sidaramaiah in the back.
Mr George, who expressed his displeasure over media reports on the internal affairs of the party, said that no one except AICC General Secretary Mr Digvijay Singh, AICC President Mrs Sonia Gandhi and AICC Vice President Mr Rahul Gandhi were authorised to speak on behalf of the party. Party legislators, if they face any problems, should address it in the Legislature Party itself, he said.
