Daijiworld Media Network- Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Jul 22: Congress leader in the Lok Sabha and a senior Congressman from the state, Mallikargun Kharge revealed that he is ready to come back to state politics. His only condition is, the legislators should say ‘yes’.

The veteran Congress leader made this statement in city while interacting with the press persons on Tuesday, July 21 on the day of his birthday when he completed 73 years.

When asked a question as to when he will return to state politics, Kharge replied that he will only come back if the legislators want. When a scribe said that there are legislators who want him to come back, Kharge asked to give him a list of those legislators who want him back.

Kharge who always said high command will decide about his home coming, even on Tuesday said that high command will decide, but after indicating openly that he wants to come back. Previously he did not comment on the question at all.

The ‘cold war’ between so called original Congressmen and newcomers is a known fact in state politics. Kharge, one of the senior most original Congressmen had a good relationship with the newcomer chief minister Siddaramaiah. But recently Kharge expressed his dissatisfaction over the treatment Hyderabad Karnataka receives from the state government. Some people took it as first step in dissidence path. But much was not discussed about Kharge’s statement. But with his latest statement, the previous one gains importance.

It is said that some legislators have complained to Kharge saying that original Congressmen are sidelined by the newcomers. They have reportedly told him that if the trend continues, the Congress party would lose its ‘originality’.

Some sources said that Kharge is keen to come back at the soonest without wasting any time. State Congress chief Dr Parameshwar’s initiatives to come to limelight should be remembered here. But Dr Parameshwar had to calm down after the high command intervened. But now with Kharge’s statement about his willingness to come back, state politics will not remain the same.