From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 17: Though a Dalit has occupied the top-most post in the State party as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President and the Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly or the Legislative Council and the demand for the Chief Minister’s post for a Dalit leader is getting louder, KPCC Chief and Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara said occupying the coveted post still remained a distant dream for Dalits as far as Karnataka is concerned.

Some states have had the distinction of Dalits becoming the Chief Ministers and a Dalit leader K R Narayanan became the President of India and BabuJagjivanram became the Deputy Prime Minister, he said pointing out that no Dalit leader has become the Prime Minister.

Even after more than six decades of Independence, Dalits are still not politically united, Dr Parameshwara said after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary.
The statement of Dr Parameshwara, who was a serious contender for the Chief Minister’s post in the 2013 assembly polls and lost out due to his defeat in the assembly polls, assumes significance in the backdrop of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah making his ambition of leading the party in the 2018 elections clear in the House during the last session.

There have been repeated demands to install a Dalit Chief Minister in place of backward caste Kuruba leader Siddaramaiah.

It is suspected to be backed by Dalit Congress leaders such as Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha MallikarjunaKharge and Dr Parameshwara.

Dr Parameshwara said Dr Ambedkar demanded a separate electoral college for Dalit to elect Dalit leaders to Legislative Assembly and Parliament.

In the present electoral system, all community people votes to select a leader even in a reserved constituency.

The system of separate electorates would have allowed Dalits and other marginalised communities to become a separate constituency of voters, Dr Parameshwara said.

Cong MLA Nadahalli likely to be expelled

The rebel Congress MLA, A S Patil Nadahalli, who had been suspended from Devarahipparagi constituency in Vijayapura district, is likely to be expelled from the Congress for repeatedly embarrassing the party by indulging in anti-party activities.

It may be recalled that on Saturday, the suspended Congress MLA attended the JD(S) legislature party meeting in Mysuru.

Earlier, he had campaigned for JD(S) candidates during elections to taluk and zillapanchayats.
Nadahalli has been suspended from attending the Congress Legislature Party meetings for indulging in anti-party activities.

Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, KPCC Chief Dr Parameshwara said the party would take stern action against Nadahalli, who has been repeatedly indulging in anti-party activities.

"A report will be sent to the party high command and suitable disciplinary action will be taken soon,’’ he added.