Parameshwara–Kumaraswamy meet adds to churn amid Siddaramaiah–Shivakumar tussle

Bengaluru: Amid the ongoing leadership tussle between CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar, a hush-hush meeting between state home minister G Parameshwara and union minister and JD(S) state president HD Kumaraswamy has added a fresh layer of political speculation. The duo held a closed-door discussion at a private hotel in Bengaluru Saturday for about 45 minutes.The meeting has assumed significance as it also coincided with PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi and former cooperation minister KN Rajanna calling on AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge in Delhi. Jarkiholi and Rajanna said Kharge had assured them that the high command would resolve the issue soon.
Rajanna has been vocal in saying that if Siddaramaiah has to step down as the chief minister, Parameshwara, a dalit, should be considered for the top post.The Parameshwara–Kumaraswamy meeting has been interpreted in various ways. While both said they discussed development projects, others have linked the interaction to a broader political plan to counter Shivakumar, who has been lobbying with the high command to replace Siddaramaiah as CM, in line with an alleged unwritten pact between the two in the presence of the party leadership.Even if the meeting was related to development issues, some have questioned the need for a confidential interaction in a private hotel. Parameshwara has not clarified the topics of the talks but maintained that such speculation is spread by the opposition.Reacting to the meeting, Shivakumar, in a sarcastic tone, said the discussion could have been related to industrial projects in Parameshwara's constituency or other routine matters between a state minister and a union minister, and there was no need to attach special significance to it.Shivakumar's supporters are, however, confident that the high command will summon both him and Siddaramaiah to Delhi after the budget session to make a decision on power transfer.———HM downplays dalit CM demandMonday, Parameshwara downplayed the demand for a dalit chief minister, saying CM Siddaramaiah's politics has always been rooted in social justice. "The opposition is making baseless allegations to cover up its own issues. Is the chief minister not governing? For the past 12 days, he has been holding discussions with ministers and officials of various departments regarding the budget. The opposition is unnecessarily bringing up the issue of a dalit chief minister." Parameswhwara said a decision on a dalit CM rests with the Congress leadership."If there is to be a dalit chief minister, it is for the Congress party to decide," he added.Social welfare minister HC Mahadevappa, another dalit aspirant said Sunday that while Siddaramaiah should continue in his current post, a dalit leader should succeed him.