From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 18: Even as many Dalit organisations in Karnataka are rooting for a Dalit to become chief minister of the State, Social Welfare Minister H Anjaneya on Wednesday said the demand will not materialise until the next assembly elections in the State.

The minister, who also belongs to the Dalit community told reporters in the lobby of Vidhana Soudha, said Siddaramaiah will continue as the State’s chief minister till the next assembly elections.

‘’The State will not get a Dalit Chief Minister till 2018,’’ he said pointing out that Karnataka missed of having the Dalit Chief Minister twice in 2004 and in 2008.

He contended that senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge had all the credentials of becoming the Chief Minister but missed the opportunity, Anjaneya said.

The KPCC chief Dr G Parameshwar, who was also a contender for the post in the 2013 assembly elections, lost out as he lost in the assembly polls even though the party came back to power.

The Congress-JD(S) formed the government in 2004 and N Dharam Singh became the Chief Minister with the blessings of former Prime Minster and JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda.

In the 2008 polls, the BJP government came to power with the support of six independent MLAs. Anjaneya said Siddaramaiah would continue to head the government till 2014 Assembly polls.

Meanwhile, Revenue Minister V Srinivasa Prasad, who himself as Dalit, ridiculed the demand of the so-called Dalit organisations and wondered what were their credentials to make the demand.

The incumbent chief minister Siddaramaiah, who enjoys the support of the Congress legislature party and the backing of the party command, will continue in power and lead the party to victory in the next assembly elecitons, Prasad said.

In a separate press meet, Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy opposed appointment of the Chief Minister and ministers on caste lines.