Make your pick Dr G. Parameshwar but not DCM!

Bengaluru: Close on the heels of AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh's recent visit to Belgaum,  Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s camp seems to be ready to negotiate with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president (KPCC) Dr G. Parameshwar and offer him a plum portfolio even while retaining the PCC president's post.

If this formula works out, cabinet expansion may even happen by the month end. Dr Parameshwar has been openly demanding the Deputy Chief Minister's post in the Siddaramaiah's cabinet while the CM is ready for anything other than the DCM post.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a senior leader disclosed that serious efforts will be made to convince Dr Parameshwar to accept any portfolio of his choice including the Home portfolio. "It is a win-win situation for both leaders. Mr Siddaramaiah can rest satisfied that he was not forced to create the DCM post, while Dr Parameshwar can be happy that he has become a minister and has also retained the KPCC president's post" the leader explained.

The source quoted Mr Siddarmaiah arguing his case citing the ‘revolts’ in the Kerala and Assam Congress units. "In Kerala,   PCC president, Ramesh Chennithala was the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president for almost a decade and demanded that he be  made DCM in the Oommen Chandy  cabinet. In the Assam Congress there was an open rebellion to create the DCM post, but in both states, party central leaders did not budge and Ramesh Chennithala was made home minister. Therefore, Dr Parameshwar can remain KPCC president for another year and a half and till then, he can be allowed to handle both responsibilities," the source contended.

When contacted, a reliable source in  Dr Parameshwar’s camp, disclosed that the  central leaders had not suggested any such formula to Dr Parameshwar. "It is not clear whether Dr Parameshwar will accept this peace formula.  Even when he was defeated in the 2013 assembly elections and party central leaders requested him to contest the Lok Sabha polls in May 2014, he had politely rejected the idea of contesting the polls. He had told the leaders that  he would prefer to remain in state politics rather than jump to national politics. Such being the case, his accepting such a formula and becoming home minister is remote," the source claimed.