Tumakuru, 8 June

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Monday said that Congress MLA BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan, who was previously the housing minister, should get a ministerial berth as he was “capable leader”.

Speaking to reporters in his home district of Tumakuru on Monday, Parameshwara said he didn’t know why Zameer missed out in the first phase.

“There is a demand across the State to give him… a capable leader from the minority community… a ministerial berth in the second phase,” he said.  “The High Command will consider it. There is nothing wrong with giving him a berth.”

Simultaneously, Parameshwara expressed gratitude for being made the DyCM, saying he intends to fly to New Delhi and thank the High Command.

He also said that he missed several opportunities to become the Chief Minister, a long-standing demand among the Dalit community.

“Perhaps if I had won in 2013, Siddaramaiah would not have become Chief Minister. Maybe it was destiny. Because I lost, he became Chief Minister,” he remarked. He said 2018 was another missed opportunity, describing politics as “unpredictable”.

“At one stage, I even told the leadership that if I could not be given the Chief Minister’s post, I would retire from politics,” he added.

Water projects & land acquisition

Parameshwara said that the land acquisition for the Hemavati Express Link Canal, which had “stalled a bit” will be completed “quickly”, as per the instructions of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

“We will convince the farming community,” he said, addressing opposition to the project.

According to a press release, land acquisition had been completed for the Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project and water was expected be released by July. However, there have been some delays.

Parameshwara said that all pending irrigation works must be completed in two years, and said that a District Task Force will be formed to ensure deadlines are met.

Parameshwara, who also holds the Sports portfolio, said that Tumakuru city will be turned into a “sports city”.