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

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.

Safari in Karnataka jungle

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.

He sought to make it clear that the government had not taken a unilateral decision in this regard, but had permitted resumption of safari only after consulting experts.

Safari operations resumed at Bandipur, near Mysuru, on February 22 after a gap of more than three months, but the Forest Department had brought down not only the number of vehicles deployed, but also reduced the time duration.