Parameshwara to stay as KPCC chief

G Parameshwara will continue as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, but resign as home minister to devote his “full time and energy” to the party, the Congress announced on Wednesday.

It also said the party would fight the Assembly elections, coming up in less than a year, under the leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The decision was taken by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi, according to a statement issued by AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

Role for S R Patil

Dwivedi said former minister S R Patil had been appointed working president, in addition to Dinesh Gundurao, who holds a similar post. Patil will look after party affairs in north Karnataka, while Gundurao will be in charge of the southern districts.

Power Minister D K Shivkumar, top contender for the KPCC president’s post, was named chairman of the election campaign committee.

Dwivedi said former Union minister K H Muniyappa, who had been lobbying for the post of president, had been made special invitee to the Congress Working Committee, the highest decision-making body of the party.

Former minister Satish Jarkiholi, who had threatened to quit the party following differences with his half brother and Small Scale Industries Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi, was appointed AICC secretary.

Meeting effect

Last Monday, Rahul had held a marathon meeting with top state leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Parameshwara.

K C Venugopal, the new AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka affairs, had held extensive discussions with officer bearers of all district units, besides other leaders, in Bengaluru last week.

With these appointments, the party high command intends to send out a message that the interests of all communities had been accommodated as the party prepares for state elections, due in March-April next year.

District prospects

As Parameshwara will remain at the helm, there will be no major shake-up in the state party organisation. Only some minor changes are likely in the district units. The high command does not want to rock the boat, and wants all party workers to focus on winning the elections.