‘If I had won, I would have been Chief Minister’
Nothing wrong in aspiring to be CM or DCM, but final decision is left to high command
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-08-07 06:05 GMT
Bengaluru: Clearly expressing his desire for the first time, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, Dr G. Parameshwar on Wednesday asserted that he was capable of handling any responsibility including that of deputy chief minister in Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet.
Speaking to reporters after celebrating his 64th birthday at various venues, organised by his Fans Association here, Dr Parameshwar said, "Yes, if all had gone well in May 2013, I would have been the chief minister of this state. But, my personal loss in the Assembly elections cost me dear in politics. It is but natural for me to expect to be the DCM in the present cabinet. From the post of KPCC president to DCM, I can expect at least this much from the party central leadership."
He, however quickly added that he was the last person to lobby for any post or position in the party as he had always left it to party central leaders to take the final call on his role.
"All I can say at this point is that my entry into the cabinet befitting my stature would only strengthen the hands of Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah in the days to come," he said.
He also agreed that he was an ambitious leader and having the ambition to be Chief Minister or DCM was not at all wrong on his part. In response to a question, Dr Parameshwar asserted that he was not against anyone aspiring to become DCM be it Law and Parliamentary affairs minister, T. B. Jayachandra or anyone else.
"Mr Jayachandra who hails from my district(Tumkur) is much senior to me in politics. When I entered politics, he was already a Legislator and a minister, so, if he is aspiring to become DCM, I will be the happiest man. Not only, Mr Jayachandra, there are many senior leaders in our party who aspire to be number one or number two in the cabinet. There's nothing wrong in harbouring such aspirations," he explained.
When asked about dropping non-performing ministers, the KPCC president stated that there was large scope for optimisation in each ministry but the Cabinet reshuffle exercise was the Chief Minister's prerogative, he would not like to comment on such issue. He rebutted reports on the party striking an alliance with JD(S) for the bypolls.
Answering a question posed by the media on the birthday celebrations of KPCC President Dr G. Parameshwar,Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said it was a celebration organised by his fans and had nothing to do with politics. “I too wish him on his birthday”, the Chief Minister said.
The CM was interacting with reporters after presenting bagina to river Cauvery at the KRS reservoir in Mysore where the water level reached the maximum capacity of 124 feet on Wednesday