Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 7: Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G Parameshwar's term ended last year. He has completed six years in that post and in all likelihood his position will remain undisturbed during the seventh year too. He may be allowed to continue in that post till the next assembly election approaches, sources believe.

For the first time ever in the history of state Congress, a state president has entered seventh year in office. It is said that the national leadership of the party is not inclined to take any risks by replacing him at a crucial juncture when former minster, Srinivas Prasad's resignation has set the stage for battle royal by way of bypoll in Nanjangud constituency which Prasad was representing.

The issue of change of state leadership has been under consideration since a few months before the term of Parameshwar came to an end. The party's top leadership evinced interest in continuing Parameshwar in the post till the next assembly election approaches, in view of the fact that he has been able to function as a coordinator between the party and the government. The party is aware of the danger if a controversial person takes over to the chagrin of other aspirants at this stage.

As Nanjangud has predominance of dalits, and a dalit leader, Srinivas Prasad, was elected from here several times, Congress has sensed that changing dalit leader, Parameshwar, might dim its chances in the bypoll. It is said that Parameshwar, who had visited New Delhi three days back, had pressurized national leaders of the party to continue him in the post. Therefore, the high command is said to have evinced interest in retaining him till the assembly election is round the corner. The leadership might also think of fighting the next election under the joint leadership of Siddaramaiah and Parameshwar, after assessing the situation prevailing then.

For the new incumbent, there is not enough time to understand the functioning of party organization and rejuvenate the party as assembly elections are scheduled to be held in 2018. Parameshwar's departure can pose the risk of division of dalit votes for the Congress, it is felt. Therefore, sources believe that a situation has arisen in which the party is compelled to continue him in that post for the present. It is not a secret that a few strong contenders for this post, who have been waiting in the wings since long, are frustrated by the uncertainty surrounding their future.