'Strove for party's win as CLP in 1999, but SM Krishna became CM,' says Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge

Kharge's remark of missing the big chair in Karnataka rekindles 'Dalit CM' debate

Bengaluru: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s statement lamenting how he missed the chief ministerial bus when Congress stormed to power in 1999 has rekindled the ‘Dalit CM’ debate within the party.

Speaking at an event in Vijayapura on Sunday, Kharge said his efforts to bring Congress to power in 1999 “went down the drain” when SM Krishna was made the chief minister.

“As the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, I made efforts to bring the party to power. SM Krishna (was made KPCC president) just four months (before the election) and became the chief minister. My efforts went down the drain. I toiled for five years. But someone who came just four months earlier (got power). There are many such stories,” Kharge said.

Kharge went on to say that one must work hard without greed. “From being a block president in 1969, I’m now the AICC president. I was Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha and I'm now in Rajya Sabha. All these are the fruits of my hard work. I didn’t chase these positions,” he said.

Making a Dalit the CM is a hotly debated matter within Congress. Senior leaders such as G Parameshwara have publicly lamented that Dalits are not given the opportunity to become CM.

Reacting to this, Mahadevappa, the social welfare minister, said: “Kharge is our national leader who is fit to occupy any Constitution post. It’s our desire that he is given the opportunity.”

Mahadevappa pointed out that Damodaram Sanjivayya, Sushil Kumar Shinde, Jagannath Pahadia and Ram Sundar Das were Dalits who became CMs in Congress. "When time comes, the party will take a decision," he said.

Close on the heels of Kharge’s statement, Jagalur Congress MLA B Devendrappa on Sunday called for a Dalit to become the CM in the current term of this government. “A Dalit CM is just one step away,” he said at an event where ministers Parameshwara and HC Mahadevappa, both belonging to Scheduled Castes, were present on the dais.

The opposition BJP swiftly picked on Kharge’s statement and attacked the Congress for “tokenism” when it comes to Dalit empowerment.

“Every time a Dalit rises in Congress, the Gandhi family ensures he is pulled down,” Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka said. He accused Congress of “insulting” former Andhra Pradesh chief minister T Anjaiah, “ousting...like a criminal” Sitaram Kesari and “denying...despite decades of loyalty” Kharge the CM’s post.