Water Resources Minister Govid M. Karjol on Saturday challenged the Opposition Congress to declare veteran leader and AICC presidential candidate M. Mallikarjun Kharge as the Chief Minister face of the party in the State Legislative Assembly elections, 2023.
Speaking at a press conference here, Mr. Karjol said the Congress has "cheated" Mr. Kharge, a Dalit leader of the party. Despite his victory in 11 elections, nine in Assembly and two in Lok Sabha, Mr. Kharge had been denied the post of Chief Minister by the Congress, he alleged.
“The Congress is a sinking ship and is facing an existential crisis,” he said. Dalits are not satisfied with Mr. Kharge being made the AICC presidential candidate. The Congress, which ruled the country for six decades banking on Dalit votes, “backstabbed” the Dalit community, he alleged.