Shivakumar backs Kharge's 1999 CM snub remarks, says he's just expressing his feelings
Mallikarjun Kharge
expressing his disappointment publicly over missing out on becoming the
CM of Karnataka
in 1999 despite putting his best efforts to bring the Congress to power.
'There is nothing wrong with it. He is a senior leader of the party and has worked hard for the
Congress party
's growth. He has just expressed his feelings,' he told media persons. On discussions around Kharge's possible return to Karnataka's politics, Shivakumar said there was nothing wrong with such discussions as everyone was entitled to his or her opinion.
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Speaking at a public event in Vijayapura on Sunday, Kharge poured out his feelings and said he was denied the CM post despite working hard for the Congress win in the 1999 assembly elections preferring someone (SM Krishna) who was just four-month-old in the party.
The veteran Congress leader, who was the Home & Transport Minister in the SM Krishna government (1999-2004) said he toiled to bring the Congress party to power as leader of the Opposition. But Krishna was made the party's state unit chief just four months before the elections and made the CM on the party's win. All his efforts went down the drain, he had said.
The AICC chief's public comments triggered discussions among SC/ST MLAs that Kharge be made the CM of Karnataka during the present term itself, echoing demands from both vocal and non-vocal groups that the Congress must make a Dalit leader as CM.
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