'I didn't get deputy chief minister post just because I am a Dalit', says Parameshwara

G Parameshwara who had his moment in the sun when he was sworn in as the deputy CM of Karnataka on Wednesday said that he doesn't think that he got this post because he is a dalit.

Addressing media, Parameshwara said,''I don't think I got the post of deputy chief minister because I am a Dalit. It is by chance that I am a dalit.''

''JD(S) will support our candidate in Rajarajeshwari Nagar assembly constituency poll. Some of our leaders and I personally feel EVMs have been manipulated by BJP. Many Congress leaders lost at places even where Congress had a stronghold. We will complain to EC, we urge to move back to ballot papers,'' G. Parameshwara further said.

Parameshwara, the longest serving Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief, was among the frontrunners for the deputy chief minister's post. Parameshwara won election from Koratagere constituency in Tumakuru district by defeating JD(S) candidate Sudhakar Lal, making it his fifth victory in state elections.

Parameshwara has been the KPCC president for eight years now. He was appointed as KPCC president on 27 October, 2010.

He has been elected to the Karnataka Assembly four times earlier. He has represented Madhugiri in 1989, 1999 and 2004, and Koratagere in 2008.

Parameshwara has served as the minister for sericulture (1993-94) and minister for higher education (1999-2004).

(with inputs)