Dalit convention will be held soon: Rajanna

K.N. Rajanna
| Photo Credit:

To strengthen the support base among Dalits ahead of elections to rural and urban local bodies, Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna has said a convention of Dalits will be held soon in the central part of Karnataka.

Three possible locations

Mr. Rajanna, who is seen as a loyalist of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has visited Delhi and discussed the plan to hold the convection of Dalit leaders and people with the party’s central leaders. He said the convention would be held in one of the three places — Hubbballi, Davangere or Chitradurga.

The party’s central leaders, including AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, would be invited to the convention. Mr. Rajanna said he had discussed political developments in the government and the party with Mr. Kharge, and K.C. Venugopal, MP. However, he declined to divulge the details of the meeting.

Earlier, four Ministers belonging to the Dalit community had decided to hold a dinner meeting of Ministers, legislators, and former legislators belonging to the community in Bengaluru on January 8. But it was cancelled following the intervention of AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Request to be relieved

Meanwhile, Mr. Rajanna has written to Mr. Siddaramaiah and KPCC president and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, requesting that he be relieved from the duties of district in-charge Minister of Hassan district. The Cooperation Minister said he wants to focus on development and strengthening of the party in Tumakuru, his home district.