3 ministers demand MLC seat for Dalit

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A section of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) ministers have demanded that the Congress high command consider Dalit representation as far as the four Council berths are considered. The Cabinet members making the demands are Home Minister G Parameshwara, who is a Dalit, besides Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi and Co-operation Minister KN Rajanna, who both come from the Nayaka community, which is categorised as an ST.

The same ministers also suggested that smaller Other Backward Classes (OBCs) be given preference for another one of the four vacancies in the Upper House. They reasoned that if the representation of Ahinda (Alpasankhyatru, Hindulidavaru, Dalitaru, which is Kannada for minorities, backward classes and Dalits) communities is ensured, they will rally behind the Congress come poll time.

Council berths up for grabs: The election for the four MLCs is coming up thanks to either terms expiring or Upper House members quitting. The terms of two Congressmen – UB Venkatesh and Prakash Rathod – have expired. Meanwhile, CP Yogeshwar quit as BJP MLC back in October 2024 and contested the Channapatna Assembly by-poll on a Congress ticket and won the next month.

Moreover, the term of senior JD(S) MLC KA Thippeswamy expired on January 27. In addition to that, the terms of five nominated members will expire on July 21 this year. It is to be noted that the latter five includes one of the seats currently left vacant. In June 2026, the terms of seven more MLCs will expire. Congress currently has 33 members in the 75-member Council. They require 38 for a majority in the House and the ability to pick their own Chairman, a post currently held by BJP man Basavaraj Horatti.