Karnataka: Dinesh Gundu Rao, BK Hariprasad in race for KPCC chief post

BENGALURU: Even as the dissidence over ministerial berths in Congress is showing signs of subsiding, competition is turning intense for KPCC president’s post. State leaders are expected to head to Delhi after June 14 to meet Congress president Rahul Gandhi to discuss the selection of new KPCC president.

While KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao has gained an edge over others for the post after his recent meetings with Rahul Gandhi, the race has suddenly started hotting up. Thanks to personal ambitions of many leaders in the party and the caste politics, names of AICC General Secretary BK Hariprasad, party veteran and seven-time MP KH Muniyappa and even former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are being floated as possible choices to succeed G Parameshwara, who has remained KPCC President for a record eight years now.

Meanwhile, factions within Congress have started working to counter Dinesh Gundu Rao by playing the caste card. As Rao belongs to numerically weak Brahmin community, lobbying is on to get a leader from backward community to head the KPCC. The name of Hariprasad, belonging to Idiga caste, is doing the rounds for the post. The issue came up for discussion during the meeting of the state MPs chaired by Parameshwara on Sunday.

The MPs made a strong pitch to have a say in the selection of the new KPCC chief. Hariprasad and Muniyappa have conveyed that they too were in the race. Though Muniyappa’s chances of making it is seen as remote as the present KPCC president G Parameshwara too is a Dalit. Those supporting Muniyappa are putting up an argument that the SC left group, to which Muniyappa belongs, has not got its due in the party’s power structure. Parameshwara belongs to the right group among the SCs.

The factional politics also took a curious turn on Monday with a section of the party leaders throwing up former CM Siddaramaiah’s name as the best choice if the party is keen to give the post to a Backward Community leader.“We will be happy if Siddaramaiah is made the KPCC President. Siddaramaiah is not just the leader of one community he is a leader of entire state,” said Congress MLA Byrathi Suresh.

Gundu Rao, who has not staked his claim for ministerial berth after his talks with Rahul Gandhi has preferred to maintain a low profile amidst the developments.“I am a loyal Congress worker and will shoulder any responsibility that the party entrusts me with. I am a five-time MLA, a former minister and currently the Working President. I have never hankered after power and I am confident that the high command knows how best to utilise my experience,” Rao said.