Speculation over Dalit CM remark

Back to reality as elections conclude

Now that politicians have done their once in five year ritual of wooing the masses, it is back to square one. Even before results have been declared, common people will get a shock. The Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Authority which was sitting on a proposal to hike electricity rates by ESCOM’S (electricity supply companies) is likely to announce its decision on an upward revision of prices.

The electric shock to the aam aadmi’s current bill could vary from anywhere between 10% and 40%, depending on factors such as amount of units consumed and whether the consumption is in a rural area or a urban one. BENGALURU: After insisting through the campaign that he would be the next chief minister of Karnataka “without any doubt”, the incumbent CM Siddaramiah has set the cat among the pigeons by declaring he is ready to step aside if the Congress high command choses a Dalit to replace him.

His declaration came hours after most exit polls indicated that no party is likely to get to the halfway mark on its own. Siddaramaiah’s remarks are seen as an indication that he will not stand in the way if the party falls short of a majority and needs to take the help of the Janata Dal (Secular) to form a government. Till 2005, Siddaramaiah was a JD(S) member and even became the deputy CM in an earlier coalition government with the Congress. However he subsequently had a falling out with the Gowda family who call the shots in the JD(S).

Immediately after Siddaramiah’s statement, speculation mounted on who an acceptable candidate could be. Senior political analyst Mahadev Prakash said: “The CM’S sudden volte-face that he would be willing to accept a Dalit as a CM is an indication that following exit polls he is not confident of getting a majority. He was not ready to make a Dalit as even his deputy CM for the last five years and now suddenly is sympathetic to them.”

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Sriramulu asked, “Where was his concern for the Dalit community all these years?’ he questioned. CT Ravi, another BJP leader, also said the CM’S statement was an admission that he would not come back to power.

The names of Mallikarjuna Kharge, leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, Dr G Parameshwara, state party president, former Union minister in Manmohan Singh’s cabinet K H Muniyappa, Siddaramaiah’s close aide HC Mahadevappa and former state minister Motamma are already doing the rounds.

Kharge has said that he should not be considered for the post merely because he is a Dalit but as a senior Congress leader. Muniyappa has indicated that he is ready to sho- ulder any responsibility given by the party high command. Mahadev Prakash said, “If Congress falls short of a majority, JD(S) will try to have Kumaraswamy as the CM. If that is not possible they would prefer Muniyappa or a Mahadevappa as both of them share excellent rapport with HD Deve Gowda”.