Karnataka Chief Minister’s post is not vacant, says Minister Venkatesh

Karnataka Minister Venkatesh asserts the Chief Minister's post is not vacant, addressing Dalit leadership demand.

Karnataka’s Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K. Venkatesh said the post of Chief Minister is not vacant.

On February 23, addressing queries from reporters in Mysuru on the reported demand for a Dalit Chief Minister in Karnataka, Mr. Venkatesh said he was not aware of such a demand in the Congress party. 

He pointed out that the post of Chief Minister is not currently vacant, and the question of a Dalit, Vokkaliga, Lingayat or Kuruba Chief Minister will arise only if the post becomes vacant.

He, however, said he would be happy if Minister for Social Welfare H. C. Mahadevappa, a Dalit, becomes the Chief Minister. “Mr Mahadevappa is my close friend. I will be happy if he becomes the Chief Minister,” said Mr. Venkatesh.

With regard to resumption of safari in Bandipur and Nagarhole, Mr. Venkatesh, who is the Minister in charge of Chamarajanagar district, said the government’s decision to resume safari operations was based on the recommendation made by an expert committee appointed to study the issue.

He was responding to questions from reporters on protests by farmers over resumption of safari that had been suspended in the wake of tiger attacks.