Karnataka: I am a contender for CM’s post with 10 others says Congress leader Parameshwara

The Karnataka elections are scheduled to be held either in April or May. The fight is a three-cornered one between the BJP, Congress and JD(S)

The race for the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka is hotting up within the Congress which seems confident of a win in the southern state.

While the war between Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar on who should get the top post is out in the open, another Congress leader has now said that he is an aspirant too.

G Parameshwara, a five-time MLA and Dalit leader joined the race on Thursday, when he said that he is in the running for the post of CM, if the Congress is voted to power in the state.

He however added that a final call will be taken by the high command of the party after the party wins the elections.

While asked about the possibility of having a Dalit Chief Minister, Parameshwara said, "we do not appoint a chief minister on the basis of one's caste. Whoever is capable in the given situation, whoever can fulfil the party's mission and principles will be made the CM. It is not on the basis of whether someone is a Dalit of from other caste."

There are ten aspirants for the post of CM in the parry and he is one of them. When asked why he was getting involved in politics, he said, "it is to come to power."

When the JD(S)-Congress formed the government in 2018, Parameshwara was the deputy chief minister of the state led by H D Kumaraswamy.

Parameshwara has also had the longest term as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief. He served for eight years as the KPCC chief.

Parameshwara was also asked about him losing out the race to become the CM in 2013. He said that it is the high command that decides.

"Our purpose is to get the party to power first, following which these issues will be discussed. It is up to them to decide on who the candidate will be and we will accept it. Everyone will have aspirations. Given an opportunity, I am also ready to be part of it," he said.

In 2013 when the Congress won when Parameshwara was the KPCC in-charge, he contested the elections from Koratagere in Tumakuru district, but lost. Although a contender for the post, he was made an MLC and then served in the Siddaramaiah led government.

On previous occasions, Parameshwara has alleged that some members within his party attempted to block the rise of Dalit leaders. He also said that he was denied the post of CM thrice because he is a Dalit.

On the party winning the elections, Parameshwara said he is confident about that.

"This means that the situation is favourable to the Congress. We are confident of coming to power and we will come with a full majority by crossing more than 113 seats. There have been many surveys that show wee are ahead and will make a return to power."