Ruling out a change in leadership in the state unit of Congress, Union labour minister Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday ridiculed the “LKG” (Lingayat-Kuruba-Gowda) formula adopted by the ruling party in order to retain its support base in Karnataka. “We don’t believe in either LKG or UKG concept”, Mr Kharge told media persons, adding “ours is a secular party and we believe in equal representation to all castes and communities. We want to take all communities along instead of giving prominence to a particular community”.
Mr Kharge did not see anything wrong in senior leader Mr Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s move to seek the post of president of KPCC for a Lingayat. “Everybody has a right to ask, but ultimately it is the high command which decides.” Meanwhile, state dy. CM K.S. Eshwarappa condemned Mr Shamanur Shivashankarappa’s demand to appoint a Lingayat leader as KPCC president. Speaking to media persons in Shimoga, he said “No one should indulge in caste politics. They claimed that the Congress was a secular party, but now are seeking posts on the basis of caste and community.”