2018 assembly polls: M Mallikarjun Kharge heading panel to pick candidates?

Bengaluru: The Congress party national leadership which is planning a ‘rainbow coalition’ of different leaders and groups in the party to win the 2018 assembly polls, is likely to rope in party leader in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge on a special assignment in the run-up to the elections.

The party which which seems to have decided to maintain the status quo as far as the state leadership is concerned, has adopted a cautious approach towards Dalits and upper castes, the two prominent communities. 

Sources said that though Dr G. Parameshwar, a prominent Dalit leader, may continue as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, the party reportedly has plans to make Kharge the head of the candidate selection committee to ensure genuine workers and candidates get tickets.

“This idea of having Kharge heading the Candidate Selection Committee was formulated based on two premises: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah may dominate the ticket distribution work and in the process, his supporters may get more seats. So Kharge, being the senior most Congress politician in the state, will certainly ensure neutrality in the process if he heads the committee and there will be no room for any grouse from different factions in the party. Two, since Kharge is a Dalit, this will help in attracting more Dalit votes,” sources explained.

Besides this, during the cabinet reshuffle which is due after the monsoon session, the two vacant cabinet berths are likely to be filled. 

In all likelihood, a Vokkaliga and a Lingayat are likely to be inducted. In case Dr Parameshwar has to move out of the cabinet to devote himself to the KPCC in an election year, the berth he vacates is likely to be given to a OBC leader. And in all probability, Kuruba leader H.Y. Meti who recently got a clean chit from the CID in the sex tape scam, may get into the cabinet, sources said.