Bengaluru: The revelation of Congress President Mallikrajun Kharge said that he was “denied” the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka in 1999, ruled the debate over Dalit representation in state politics and triggered a fast political crossfier.Kharge said in a public event in Dharwad on Sunday that he was passed for the top post despite the head of the Congress Legislature Party during the 1999 assembly elections. Instead SM Krishna was chosen. Kharge’s remarks immediately reacted to the BJP and cautious from their party.BJP’s R Ashok said, “Kharge has now demanded the Chief Minister to clear the debt for him.” “He gives it perfectly time – such as hitting a ripe mango with a stone.” Ashoka made a swipe to the Congress Brass, especially the Gandhi family to ignore the politicians of the Dalits, and said that Siddaramaiah, who imported a JDS, was made the Chief Minister, while Kharge, a lifelong Congress loyalty.The BJP state president of Vijayendra said that Kharge had publicly expressed “pain and disappointment”, and accused the Congress and his brass of doing injustice to Dalits. “Kharge has worked for 40–50 years. His comment shows how Congress, Gandhi family and Siddaramaiah have sidelined the SC/ST communities,” Vijayendra said.
