Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 29: After days of speculation, the Congress has finally decided to continue with home minister Dr G Parameshwara as the president of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), media reports said.
The decision, taken by the Congress high command in New Delhi, has brought disappoinment to state energy minister D K Shivakumar, who was a contender for the coveted post.
Congress national vice-president Rahul Gandhi convened a meeting of state Congress leaders, including chief minister Siddaramaiah, to discuss the issue regarding change of leadership in the state. Parameshwara's term had come to end several months ago, but the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had kept the issue pending in Karnataka, as the choice had become tough and by-polls and other developments came in the way.
State Congress in-charge, K C Venugopal, who held several rounds of discussions on the issue , had submitted a report to the party high command, which fixed the meeting for Monday.
The meeting was held at Rahul Gandhi's residence in the presence of Siddarmaiah, Parameshwara and Congress Karnataka in-charge Venugopal. Sources said that Rahul Gandhi held two rounds of meeting to decide on the choice of KPCC president, and finally, on the advice of senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, decided to continue with Parameshwara, sources said.
With elections coming up early next year, the Congress seems to have decided not to take the gamble. Sources said that fearing removal of Parameshwara would send wrong signals to the Dalit community in the state, the AICC decided not to make any change, sources said.
Official announcement of the decision is awaited.
Parameshwara to resign as home minister?
There are speculations that Parameshwara may resign from the post of home minister after it became clear that he would continue in the post of KPCC chief.
Also, in order to pacify D K Shivakumar, sources said that he may be given responsibility of the Congress election campaign in the state.