Who Is G Parameshwara? The Dark Horse In Karnataka's CM Race

Even as the suspense over the Karnataka Chief Minister's post after the Congress's resounding victory in the Assembly polls continues, former KPCC President G Parameshwara has thrown the hat into the ring for the top post.

While State Congress President D K Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are locked in an intense power struggle over who will lead the next Karnataka government, G Paraeshwara said that he was ready to take up the responsibility if the party high command asked him to run the government.

"If the high command decides and asks me to run the government, I'm ready to take up the responsibility," PTI quoted him as saying. "I have faith in the party high command. I have certain principles. I can also take about 50 legislators and do the shouting, but for me the discipline of the party is important. If people like us don't follow things, there won't be any discipline in the party. I have said that if the high command gives me the responsibility, I will take it up. I have not said I won't.", he said.

Political pundits say that he is a dark horse in the race.

So, Who is Parameshwara?

G Parameshwara, who won from his Koratagere constituency against PR Sudhakar Lal of the JDS in the recently-concluded polls, is the Dalit face of Congress. After winning his maiden election in 1989 in Madhugiri Constituency, he was made the Minister of State for Sericulture in 1991.

He held various positions under SM Krishna's government between 1999 and 2004. In Siddaramaiah's cabinet, he served as the Home Minister of Karnataka and was the Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka in the Congress-JDS coalition government in 2019.

He is also the longest-serving President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee for two consecutive terms (2010-2018).

However, the only election that he lost was in 2008 from the Koratagere constituency.