Amid Karnataka leadership tussle, plans afoot for Dalit convention

Home Minister G Parameshwara and Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa held a closed-door meeting over breakfast on Tuesday morning where they are said to have discussed organising the convention.

Bengaluru: Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) leaders in governing Congress are planning a big Dalit convention, which could become a show of strength, as part of the 'Ahinda' strategy, for Chief Minister Siddaramaiah amid uncertainty over his tenure.

Home Minister G Parameshwara and Social Welfare Minister Dr H C Mahadevappa - both SC faces in the Cabinet - held a closed-door meeting over breakfast on Tuesday morning where they are said to have discussed organising the convention.

However, Parameshwara said he met Mahadevappa to seek funds for the construction of a building for the Harti Credit Cooperative Society in Tumakuru, which the home minister chairs.

Earlier this year, the Congress high command had paused Parameshwara's plan to convene a meet-up of SC/ST leaders to plan the convention. This time, however, the Dalit leaders seem bullish.

"What's the problem in having a convention? Earlier, for some reason, the high command asked us not to go ahead, and we agreed. For the community to stick together, we need to have such conferences. We need to inform the community on what the Congress government has done for them," Parameshwara said.

According to sources, leaders like Parameshwara want to organise the convention to express gratitude to the SC/STs for supporting Congress in the 2023 Assembly election. The convention will also help them make sure Dalits stick with Congress, strengthening the 'Ahinda'.

The Ahinda - a political grouping comprising minorities, backward classes and Dalits - forms Siddaramaiah's electoral edifice.

"Details of the convention haven't been finalised yet," Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, an ST, said.

The planned convention may even happen outside the Congress' banner.

"If needed, we'll inform the party or seek its permission. Or, if the community organises it, we'll participate. We have both options," Jarkiholi said.

Mahadevappa said they need not "consult the almanac" to plan the convention. "In Mysuru recently, there was the Bouddha Maha Sammelan and all us of participated," he said. "Dalit issues need to be addressed. The right message should be sent to them."

Plans for an SC/ST convention come at a time when the 'Dalit CM' demand has resurfaced. "We'll discuss this (Dalit CM) when the time is right," Satish said. "Calls for a Dalit CM should reach the party high command, and the top brass will have to think about it. Right now, this proposal isn't before us."