Digital Desk |
Bengaluru, Nov 14 (IANS) Amid discussions over former minister and senior Congress leader H.C. Mahadevappa potentially quitting the Congress following his alleged sidelining in the party after D.K. Shivakumar took over as Karnataka Chief Minister, his son and Congress MP Sunil Bose has asserted on Saturday that the party has neither cheated nor done any injustice to their family.
Mahadevappa, a prominent frontline Congress leader from the Dalit community and a close associate of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has been at the centre of political discussions over his alleged marginalisation following the change of guard in Karnataka.
Speaking at Mysuru on the speculation surrounding his father’s political future, Sunil Bose said the Congress party had treated Mahadevappa with respect and honour and had given him an opportunity to serve as a minister.
“The Congress party has not cheated us or done any injustice to our family. The party made my father a minister and has treated him with honour. As far as my father is concerned, the party has given him due respect,” he said.
He further made it clear that his family would continue to remain with the Congress and contest elections under the party’s banner in the future.
“We will remain in the Congress party, and even in the future, we will contest elections only from the Congress,” he said.
However, Sunil Bose also indicated that some leaders who were contemplating switching parties might take such a decision in 2027.
“Those leaders who are thinking of changing parties might do so in 2027,” he said.
It can also be noted that during the leadership tussle in the Congress, Mahadevappa had openly backed Siddaramaiah’s continuation as Chief Minister. He had also maintained that if there was a change of leadership, a Dalit leader should be considered for the Chief Minister’s post.
However, Mahadevappa’s exclusion from the Cabinet following Shivakumar’s elevation as Chief Minister has fuelled speculation about his growing dissatisfaction with the party leadership.
There have also been rumours that Siddaramaiah did not strongly push for Mahadevappa’s inclusion in the Cabinet and instead focused on securing a prominent ministerial position for his son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah. Speculation has also emerged that political considerations in the same region could have contributed to the alleged differences between the leaders.
Against this backdrop, Minister Yathindra Siddaramaiah and senior Minister K.H. Muniyappa recently visited Mahadevappa at his residence and held discussions with him, triggering further political speculation.
Sunil Bose’s statement comes amid growing discussions over Mahadevappa’s political future and whether the senior Dalit leader would continue with the Congress or explore other political options.
The debate arose after Mahadevappa initially working with Dalit organisations planning a convention at Maharaja’s College grounds and the state government led in Mysuru under former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his minister-son Yathindra Siddaramaiah both planned major November 26 gatherings.
Mahadevappa dismissed the idea that there is a “prestige issue” or conflict between the government and independent organisations, stating that both share the same objective of spreading constitutional values. He noted he would gladly attend any number of programmes.
He has also welcomed the Karnataka government’s plan to hold large-scale Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) celebrations on November 26, 2026, in Mysuru, while also defending the right of independent social and Dalit organisations to hold their own parallel events.
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