The leader from the Valmiki community also tried to downplay the statement from his community seer to see him as the chief minister.
Karnataka Minister Satish Jarkiholi.
Karnataka Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday, 6 November, said there was a demand from all communities — including Dalits — to make one of their leaders the chief minister of the state, but the Congress high command would have to take a final call on this.
The leader from the Valmiki (ST) community also tried to downplay the statement from a seer of his community to see him as the chief minister, saying it was an old issue and that such a demand had been made at various events and forums in the past as well.
“There is nothing new in it. The Dalit chief minister demand was raised in 2013 as well. The issue was raised repeatedly and it ran for many days during the five years then, but the picture didn’t get released, such is the situation,” the PWD minister, who is also working president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, told reporters in response to a question.
Asked as to “when the picture may get released”, he replied, “We will have to wait and see. In 2008 too there was demand for a Dalit chief minister with Kharge ji (Mallikarjun Kharge) as a contender, but he did not get a chance, G Parameshwara (now Home Minister) was party president for eight years and became the deputy chief minister, but he too did not get a chance to become the chief minister.”
Noting that there is a demand from the Dalit community to have a chief minister from their community, the minister said it was for the party to decide, and the party’s decision was final on the issue.
Asked whether it could happen after two and a half years of this government, he said, “It’s not in our hands. There is a high command, CM, DyCM and party president you have to ask at their level, I cannot say. They can give clarity on it, let’s wait and see.”
A recent dinner meeting at Parameshwara’s residence, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Jarkiholi and Minister HC Mahadevappa in attendance, had triggered rumours that Parameshwara could be in the race to be CM in the event of a change of guard.
This meeting had gained significance amid claims and counterclaims within the Congress party about the chief minister being changed. There is Siddaramaiah may have to make way for DyCM and state party president DK Shivakumar after two and a half years of this dispensation.
To a query about Valmiki Gurupeeta seer Prasannananda Swamiji’s demand that Satish Jarkiholi should become CM, the minister said, “Swamiji has been saying this since the beginning, even before we came to power, there is nothing new in this. At the community forums, the issue comes up, it is an old issue, nothing new.”
Questioned whether he was in the race to become the chief minister, he said there was such a demand from all communities — Dalits, Lingayats, Vokkaligas — for their community leader to become CM, similarly, there was demand for him to be made the chief minister, and there was nothing special in it.
Further, he said he could not attend the recent breakfast meeting for Ministers called by the CM as he was unwell and added that there was no need to attach any other motives to it.
He also welcomed the instructions given at the meeting not to make statements on leadership change, and said, “No one should speak out on internal matters of the party.”
Jarkiholi, who was said to be miffed over some developments in the party and the government, had reportedly planned a trip to Dubai along with 50 former and current legislators, which is now said to be put on hold after high command’s intervention.
On his proposed tour with MLAs and leaders and whether he was emerging as the third power centre of the state Congress, Jarkiholi said, “Where are the three? There is only one power centre for us — our high command in Delhi. High command is the only power centre in Congress.”
It has been over five months since Siddaramaiah took oath as the chief minister of Karnataka, but the post is still a topic of hot debate for the Congress.
Even before he took the oath, the struggle for the post was causing the grand old party a headache, with Shivakumar demanding it.
The issue was settled with Shivakumar being given the deputy chief minister’s position.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders have since had to issue warnings to Karnataka Congress leaders and cadres not to speak out of turn, but talks of whether the chief minister would change continued unabated.
Even though Siddaramaiah underlined on Thursday that he would be completing the full term as the chief minister, Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday made no secret of his desire to occupy the top post if luck was on his side.
Parameshwara was reacting to Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna’s wish to see him as the chief minister someday.
Meanwhile, Karnataka IT&BT Minister Priyank Kharge told reporters on 2 November that the issue of change of guard was decided by “four people in Delhi”.
“As I have said, four people sit together in Delhi (and decide). Barring those four people, whoever talks has no value. And the high command should decide. If the high command says that I am the chief minister, then I will say ‘yes’ to it,” he said.
Shivakumar’s brother and Lok Sabha member DK Suresh said there was no point in discussing speculative questions when the chief minister’s post was not vacant.
“Siddaramaiah is the chief minister. The chief minister’s post is not vacant. This matter should be discussed when the post is lying vacant. What is the use of such talks (now)?” asked Suresh.
He added that the people of Karnataka had given the Congress five years to rule the state.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have the target of ensuring the smooth functioning of the government, he noted.
Reacting to PM Narendra Modi’s statement during the election campaign in Madhya Pradesh that there was no clarity as to how long Siddaramaiah would be CM, and there was competition between CM and DyCM over “looting” the state, Jarkiholi said making politically motivated allegations at election rallies was easy, but proving them was difficult.
“There is nothing new in it, such allegations and counter allegations are natural for a political party. During elections, other states’ issues are raised… He (PM) might have said it for political reasons…Will he or his party accept our allegations? Will they (BJP) accept our 40 percent Pay CM charge? — no.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on the Congress government in Karnataka during his speech in poll-bound Rajasthan on Sunday, 5 November, saying the grand old party had damaged the southern state.
He said the Congress harmed Karnataka where development had come to a standstill, and raised doubts about the continuation of its chief minister.
“Look at the Congress government which was formed just six months ago in Karnataka… The chief minister does not know how long he is going to be the head of the state. It has spoilt Karnataka, where the development activities have come to a standstill,” he said.
“Wherever the Congress government is formed by mistake, a competition to loot the state between its chief minister and his deputy is taking place and such news is coming regularly from Karnataka,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)
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