Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, May 29: With a meeting of leaders of state Congress having been scheduled with national vice president of the party, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday May 29, there is every likelihood that the air of uncertainty over the issue of the chief of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPC) will be finally cleared by the same evening. Party sources feel that the choice of president for KPCC has now boiled down to, continuation of Dr G Parameshwara in the post, or choosing minster, D K Shivakumar, as successor to Parameshwara.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) had kept the issue pending in Karnataka, although it had chosen heads of state Congress chief in several other cases, as the choice had become tough and bypolls and other developments came in the way. Therefore, Parameshwara continues to be the state chief of the party although his term came to an end 18 months back. State Congress in-charge, K C Venugopal, who held several rounds of discussions on the issue, has submitted his report to the party high command. The party has fixed today as the date for taking a final call in this matter.

Parameshwara, who has successfully led the state unit of the party since the last six and half years, wants to keep the post with himself. Shivakumar is strongly inclined to succeed Parameshwara to the post. While Shivakumar the skilled organizer, is credited with drafting successful strategies for bypolls and having several well-wishers in the party high command, it is said that the chief minister does not want him to become KPCC president. Among senior leaders, there is a sense of apprehension about Shivakumar as he is known to strengthen his grip on whatever he lays his hands on.

Parameshwara is backed by his successful stint as KPCC chief, and his readiness to strike compromise with other leaders. He represents Dalits and has good hold over high command. However, it is being analyzed that the chief minister does not want him to continue in the post. There are allegations that after he became a minister, his interest in organizational matters has waned.

Initially, Siddaramaiah had suggested the name S R Patil, a Lingayat, for the post. Thereafter the name M B Patil was coined. In between, a faction insisted on making Shivakumar, who belongs to strong Vokkaliga community, as the KPCC chief, with an eye on the next assembly election. Shivakumar met Kharge and Siddaramaiah separately on Sunday and requested the leaders to extend support to his candidature. Water resources minister, M B Patil, too met the chief minister. Although it is being felt that Kharge is favouring continuation of Parameshwara, a Dalit, in the seat, final decision lies with the party high command.

State party leaders including the chief minister, Parameshwara, working president of KPCC, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Shivakumar, K J George and M B Patil, travelled to New Delhi by a special plane on Sunday to take part in the said meeting scheduled to be held at 10.30 am. Some more leaders are expected to reach New Delhi by that time, and a decision might be out in the evening, it is learnt.