Minister Priyank says talks of Mallikarjun Kharge as Karnataka CM 'irrelevant'
Bengaluru(PTI): With a section of Congress leaders pitching AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge for the chief minister post amid a "leadership tussle" in Karnataka, his son and Minister Priyank Kharge on Wednesday dismissed such calls as "irrelevant."
The "internal power tussle" in the ruling party has intensified following speculations of a change in the chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The debate comes against the backdrop of an alleged "power-sharing" arrangement between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar in 2023.
"Whenever elections happen here (in Karnataka), he is in the race to become the CM, and whenever Parliamentary elections happen, he is in the race to become the PM. Such discussions are irrelevant now," Priyank told reporters in respones to a question about leaders pitching for Mallikarjun Kharge as CM.
He further said, "Mr. Kharge has spoken on this matter earlier. There is no need to discuss and drag this subject on for long."
According to party sources, Mallikarjun Kharge, a Dalit stalwart, has lost the chance to become chief minister thrice—1999 to S M Krishna, 2004 to Dharam Singh, and 2013 to Siddaramaiah.
Minister Shivananda Patil had described Mallikarjun Kharge as the "most eligible person" for the CM post. "I had committed a mistake once by not voting for him. I accept it today," he said.
State Home Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters in Vijayapura on Wednesday that if the party high command decides, everyone would accept Kharge as the CM.
Reacting to demands from some Dalit organisations for a Dalit CM, Priyank said, "There is nothing wrong in any community demanding the CM post for a leader from their community, whether it is backward classes, upper classes, minorities, or Dalits. There is nothing wrong. But for everything, there will be time and situation."
The issue of a Dalit chief minister has been debated within Congress for a long time, with senior Dalit leaders, including Parameshwara and Mahadevappa, speaking on the matter in the past.
Some prominent Dalit leaders are reportedly planning to push for a "Dalit CM" before the high command in the event of a change in the state leadership.
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Withdraw 'disrespectful' remark against Rahul Gandhi and apologise: Pilot asks Rijiju
Mumbai (PTI): Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday hit out at Union minister Kiren Rijiju for passing a "disrespectful and inappropriate" remark against Rahul Gandhi, and asked him to apologise for it.
He was answering a query regarding Rijiju's reported statement in which he described Gandhi as the "most dangerous person" for India's security, and a purported video of a man claiming to be from Karni Sena issuing death threats to the Congress leader.
Addressing a press conference here, Pilot said, "When ordinary journalists criticise the government, they face FIRs and jail. But when threats are issued against the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha (Rahul Gandhi), there is silence. This shows the government's intention. LoP is a constitutional position. To describe him as a security threat is inappropriate and disrespectful. Even as such open threats are being made, the government is not taking any action."
"The statement 9against Gandhi) should be withdrawn and an apology should be issued," the Congress general secretary said, adding that it is the job of the LoP to seek accountability from the government and ask questions.
To a query on the plane crash in which Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar was killed on January 28, Pilot said, "I do not want to speculate. There should be a transparent, time-bound inquiry. If there are doubts, a high-level investigation should clarify facts."
When asked about the demand for leadership change in the opposition INDIA bloc, he said, "Leadership decisions are internal matters. The alliance worked remarkably well in the last Lok Sabha election. The gap in numbers between the INDIA bloc and the NDA was not very wide. We are working together strongly and will continue to do so."
The Congress has been helming the INDIA bloc, a coalition of Opposition parties formed before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to counter the ruling BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). However, voices from disgruntled Congress members and those associated with the UPA dispensation suggested that the leadership of the opposition alliance should be given to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee or Tamil Nadu CM M K Stalin.
On Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Indian economy, Pilot said, "India is a major IT power. We have talent and capability. Many countries see India as a natural partner. But we must use our strengths wisely and not compromise our sovereignty under pressure."
"India should have the freedom to decide where to buy oil from. That is a sovereign decision," Pilot said.
On the issue of illegal migration, he said anybody staying illegally in India should be removed regardless of religion or caste.
"But this issue should not be politicised. If the border has been under control for 11 years, how did illegal immigrants enter? The government should provide data on how many people have been deported," he said.
"This government's intent and policies are anti-farmer and there is no accountability. The opposition will continue to demand answers from the government and stand with farmers and the people of India," he said.
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