Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)
Bengaluru, Jun 2: Under the instructions of Congress high command, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Dr G Parameshwara, who was also holding the home portfolio, resigned as home minister of the state on Thursday June 1. After a keen fight between different leaders for the post, the national leadership of the party had decided to retain Parameshwara for a second term as KPCC president, while asking him to relinquish the post of the minister.
Parameshwara met chief minister, Siddaramaiah, and submitted his resignation letter on Thursday. Earlier in the day, addressing a press conference, he said that he had decided to continue in the post of KPCC president in tune with the directives of the party high command. He added that he was resigning as minister because of the need to allot lot of time for organizational duties in the party. Parameshwara said that he is capable enough to look after both the posts he currently holds, but added that he was falling in line with the diktat of the high command of the party.
Dr G Parameshwara
Speculations about who might replace Parameshwara began to make the rounds almost immediately after Parameshwara resigned. It is learnt that energy minister, D K Shivakumar, has demanded that the home portfolio should be given to him as he was denied the post of the position of KPCC president. Home ministry is considered the second most powerful position in the cabinet after the chief minister. However, it is said that neither the chief minister nor the high command of the party have given any concrete assurance to Shivakumar on this issue.
It is also said that Siddaramaiah is keen on bringing back K J George, minister for Bengaluru development, to the post he had lost sometime back. However, some sections of the party are apprehensive that BJP might try to create trouble even on minor pretext if George, who is from a minority community and against whom BJP has certain grouses. The government does not want to buy trouble during the election year as sometimes even minor issues might cost the government dearly.
Parameshwara will continue in the post of the home minister till June 4. As monsoon session of the legislature is set to begin on June 5, the chief minister might for the time being, retain the ministry with him, it is being speculated. Once the session concludes, he may decide on handing over the department either to a new person or to one of the existing ministers, sources close to the chief minister said.
As Parameshwara was the leader of the house in the legislative council, his resignation has left this position vacant. In all possibility, minister, M R Seetharam, who is a member of the council, may take over as the floor leader. Unlike in the past, rules have been changed, making it mandatory that floor leaders in the legislative council should be members of the council. As Congress has already moved no-confidence motion against council chairman, D H Shankaramurty, this post is likely to fall vacant shortly. It is learnt that the Congress is yet to take a decision about who will replace the current council chairman among several aspirants.