In a bid to quell rising speculation, Karnataka’s Home Minister G. Parameshwara declared on Thursday that he is steering clear of any leadership confusion surrounding the chief ministership. The senior Congress leader made it clear that while his supporters continue to champion his candidacy, he is leaving the matter entirely to the party’s central leadership.
Parameshwara’s statement follows a day after he justified his backers’ public endorsements, describing them as an expression of genuine sentiment rather than impropriety. ‘My fans and workers will chant slogans and make demands – that’s inevitable,’ he remarked. ‘But I’ve told them multiple times to hold back, and the high command will decide in due course.’
The minister categorically denied any personal maneuvering, affirming he has not traveled to Delhi for lobbying or made any overt pushes for the top job. Despite his reprimands, he conceded that emotions run high among supporters, whom he cannot fully control. ‘I refuse to add to the existing confusion in the state,’ Parameshwara asserted, prioritizing unity over ambition.
Addressing queries on the push for a Dalit chief minister, he nodded in approval, deeming such aspirations legitimate. Parameshwara then turned to youth unrest over job vacancies, a critical election promise now mired in legal hurdles from internal reservation cases.
‘Our youth study hard, acquire skills, yet face joblessness – their frustration is understandable,’ he empathized. The cabinet is deliberating on filling posts, with the home department alone holding 15,000 openings. ‘Manifesto commitments stand; we’ve secured approvals and will notify recruitments promptly to fill all 2.5 lakh vacancies progressively.’
Parameshwara’s composed demeanor amid factional whispers underscores a disciplined approach, as the Congress eyes consolidating power in Karnataka without internal fractures derailing governance.