<p>Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday lost his cool when he was asked about his chief ministerial prospects, especially in the context of him being Dalit. </p>.<p>“Why do you keep saying Dalit again and again? Don’t say that. I’m a Congressman,” Kharge snapped when reporters asked him about speculation revolving around his recent statement that he will deliver “good news” on December 9, when the bypoll results will be out. </p>.<p>Some have interpreted his “good news” statement as a scenario in which he will become the chief minister in a possible Congress-JD(S) coalition after the BJP government falls. Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) said Kharge’s “good news” will make Dalits happy. </p>.<p>“You talk as if there’s a reserved seat (for a Dalit to become the CM),” Kharge said. “Can I keep identifying people by caste - he's a Kuruba, he's a Vokkaliga, you're a Lingayat, you're a Brahmin...you should understand,” he said. </p>.<p>Clarifying his statement, Kharge said: “All I said was there'll be good news because we will win all 15 seats. After that, let's see what political changes happen. That's what I meant by good news.” </p>.<p>The ‘Dalit CM’ has been a contentious issue, especially for the Congress with Kharge and G Parameshwara projected as candidates. </p>.<p>Kharge is said to have missed the opportunity of becoming the chief minister in 2013. Likewise, Parameshwara has lamented publicly that he was “prevented” from becoming a chief minister because he was Dalit. </p>
<p>Veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday lost his cool when he was asked about his chief ministerial prospects, especially in the context of him being Dalit. </p>.<p>“Why do you keep saying Dalit again and again? Don’t say that. I’m a Congressman,” Kharge snapped when reporters asked him about speculation revolving around his recent statement that he will deliver “good news” on December 9, when the bypoll results will be out. </p>.<p>Some have interpreted his “good news” statement as a scenario in which he will become the chief minister in a possible Congress-JD(S) coalition after the BJP government falls. Former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy of the JD(S) said Kharge’s “good news” will make Dalits happy. </p>.<p>“You talk as if there’s a reserved seat (for a Dalit to become the CM),” Kharge said. “Can I keep identifying people by caste - he's a Kuruba, he's a Vokkaliga, you're a Lingayat, you're a Brahmin...you should understand,” he said. </p>.<p>Clarifying his statement, Kharge said: “All I said was there'll be good news because we will win all 15 seats. After that, let's see what political changes happen. That's what I meant by good news.” </p>.<p>The ‘Dalit CM’ has been a contentious issue, especially for the Congress with Kharge and G Parameshwara projected as candidates. </p>.<p>Kharge is said to have missed the opportunity of becoming the chief minister in 2013. Likewise, Parameshwara has lamented publicly that he was “prevented” from becoming a chief minister because he was Dalit. </p>
