Kharge confronted on Dalit CM issue during Mysuru roadshow

The issue of choosing a Dalit Chief Minister, which has troubled a number of Congress leaders in the past, manifested itself again when the party’s leader in the Lok Sabha M. Mallikarjun Kharge was confronted during a roadshow on Sunday.

Mr. Kharge’s caravan was rolling through parts of Ashokapuram, a residential area with a large Dalit and OBC population, when a few youngsters asked him why they should vote for the Congress if it cannot field a Dalit as CM candidate.

They said the community has traditionally backed the Congress for 70 years and yet not once has a Dalit been given CM mantle. The youth said they would vote for the Congress only if Mr. Kharge was chosen CM candidate.

Mr. Kharge remained unfazed by the argument and merely said such issues cannot be discussed by the roadside and in public. “The elections are a serious issue. The forthcoming polls will be an ideological battle between secular and communal forces. The battle is to save the Constitution as written by B.R. Ambedkar,” he said and the roadshow continued.

Later, seeking votes for Tanveer Sait in N.R. constituency, Mr. Kharge repeated that in this ideological battle, only the Congress could save the secular fabric of the country. He also listed out various social welfare programmes launched by the Congress in the State as he urged the public to help the party retain power in Karnataka. Mr. Kharge also appealed to voters not to get swayed by the arguments of the Social Democratic Party of India, which has claimed to be the “true voice” of minorities and Dalits.

In Malavalli and Mandya

From our Special Correspondent:

Mr. Kharge also attended roadshows and addressed party workers at Malavalli and Mandya on Sunday.

He first visited Malavalli and canvassed for former Minister P.M. Narendra Swamy, the incumbent MLA. He described Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah as “sullina saradararu” (liars). Mr. Kharge was recently accused of amassing wealth by Mr. Modi at Kalaburagi.

Expressing concern about the repeated controversial remarks made by Union Minister of State for Skill Development Anantkumar Hegde on secularism and the Constitution, the senior Congressman said: “There is an urgent need to protect the Constitution and its sanctity from the BJP and its led-NDA government to protect democratic values.”

Mr. Kharge also underlined the need for all Dalit factions to set aside their differences to elect Mr. Swamy.

In Mandya, he criticised Mr. Modi and his government for “unscientific implementation” of the Goods and Services Tax regime and demonetisation, which he said had affected the economic condition of lakhs of people and caused the spiralling of prices of essential commodities. He also spoke about the increasing cases of rape and murder and about the Union government’s failure in resolving the Mahadayi and other inter-State water disputes.