Narayana Swamy
Political Analyst - Daijiworld.com

Bangalore, Jan 22: A change of guard for Congress party in Karnataka looks imminent, as the party high command is seriously considering giving the state leadership to one of the veteran leaders who is currently serving in the union cabinet.

Realising that the state may go for assembly election anytime during this year or early next year, the Congress high command leaders in New Delhi are carefully watching the current developments in BJP camp. While leaders are busy creating a successful formula in the five states where elections are due from next month, Karnataka too is considered to work under the same formula.

It is learnt that KPCC president Dr G Parameshwar was given a verbal hint while handing over the state Congress leadership to him that his stint as Karnataka Congress chief may be temporary, and that it would be changed according to the possibility of election on the state.

There are two important factors that have raised doubts about Dr Parameshwara's future - one, he was summoned by the high command last Wednesday to brief him about the decision of high command to change his guard; and two - Congress leaders in Delhi have asked Siddaramaiah to cut short his Australia trip and present himself in New Delhi by Monday January 23. Both these moves have been considered preparatory for leadership change. Amidst all this, Ghulam Nabi Azad, the central observer for Karnataka Congress paid a visit to the state a couple of days back to get the individual opinions of some senior leaders here in Bangalore, and is expected to submit his 'secret' report to the high command on Monday.

It is reliably learnt that there will be one prime candidate for KPCC president post, along with four working presidents. A leader from a strong community will be given the post of KPCC president. SM Krishna, Mallikarjuna Kharge, and K H Patil are the three seniormost leaders who can be considered for the resident's post. While Krishna belongs to Vokkaliga community, Patil is a Lingayat. Kharge has the opportunity due to his experience, but he belongs to backward community.

A calm, cool and highly educated Dr Parameshwar has been an efficient Congress leader, but reportedly he has little control over the senior members of the party in state.