Despite AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge’s stern warning that all Congress leaders in Karnataka should remain silent on the leadership issue, four Ministers belonging to the Dalit community held a meeting at Home Minister G. Parameshwara’s office at the State Secretariat and discussed State politics.
Besides Dr. Parameshwara, Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi, and Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna held the meeting and discussed political issues. Mr. Jarkiholi told reporters that there were political discussions, but he declined to divulge details of the meeting.
However, Dr. Parameshwara said Valmiki community seer Prasannananda Swami had come to his chamber to invite him to the festival in February, and political issues were not discussed. Other Ministers had joined the meeting in the presence of the seer, he said.
On January 17, Mr. Kharge sternly warned two factions led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar not to issue public statements on the appointment of new KPCC chief or change of the Chief Minister. Earlier, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala too asked Dr. Parameshwara not to hold a “dinner” meeting of Dalit Ministers, which they said was called to discuss socio-economic issues faced by members of the Dalit community.
Published – January 31, 2025 08:19 pm IST