‘If high command wants, I’m ready’: G Parameshwara

As parleys continue within the Congress party on the next Karnataka chief minister, with former chief minister Siddaramaiah and State President D K Shivakumar emerging as frontrunners, senior party leader G Parmeshwara on Tuesday sprung a surprise by stating that he was ready to take up the responsibility if the party high command asked him to do so.

“If the high command wants, I am ready to take up the responsibility,” the former Deputy Chief Minister told the media, adding that a Dalit leader should become the chief minister. He further said that the high command was aware of his service to the party, and he doesn’t feel the need to lobby for the post.

“I trusted the party leaders. I can form a group of 50 MLAs. But I don’t do that. I have some principles. Discipline is important to me. If the high command gives me the responsibility of CM, I will definitely do it. Also, I have served as the Deputy Chief Minister. The High Command knows everything about me and my work, so I don’t want to lobby. That doesn’t mean I’m incapable; I’m capable, and if given the opportunity, I will do the job,” Parmeshwara said.
Despite winning a clear mandate in the assembly polls, suspense over the chief minister continued today.

Frontrunners to the post, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, are in the national capital to discuss with the party’s central leadership the government formation in Karnataka and the next Chief Minister of the State.
However, supporters of Parameshwara staged a protest in Bengaluru, demanding that a Dalit be the CM of the state.

Parameshwara was Deputy Chief Minister during the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka led by HD Kumaraswamy.
Three central observers of the Congress, who interacted with newly elected party MLAs on their choice for Chief Minister, submitted their reports to Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday.