Despite a categorical statement by senior leaders of AICC, ruling out a change in leadership of the state unit, prominent Lingayat, Muslim and OBC leaders in the state unit of Congress are reportedly set to make a renewed attempt to oust KPCC president, Dr G. Parameshwar.
These leaders reportedly conveyed their decision to seek a change of leadership to Congress general secretary in-charge of Karnataka, Madhusudan Mistry, earlier this week and followed it up with strategy sessions here on Thursday and Friday. “Once we get an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, we will go to Delhi and lobby for a change of leadership,” a leader who participated in the meetings told Deccan Chronicle.
The leader said Dr Parameshwar’s baiters chose to renew their demand for a change of leadership after the party high command changed the state unit chief in Himachal Pradesh. “The election is in November and the party changed the PCC chief now. In Karnataka, the polls are almost six-to-eights months away. So there is nothing wrong in changing the PCC chief. Though the percentage of Scheduled Caste voters is high, they are neither united nor likely to support Dr Parameshwar en masse. Besides, Dr Parameshwar has failed to take every one, including senior leaders of the party, along.
Therefore, he should be replaced,” the leader added. Members of the new coalition of leaders belonging to Lingayat, Muslim and OBC communities are likely to recommend the names of former treasurer, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly, Siddaramaiah and former Union minister B Janardhan Poojary for the KPCC post. “To impress Mrs Gandhi, Mr Shivashankarappa and Mr Poojary reportedly said that they were not aspirants for the CM’d post. The other strong reason which will work in favour of him is that Mr Shivashankarappa will be elected president of All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha on Monday.