Why Priyanka Gandhi And Karnataka Minister Parameshwara Skipped Cong Meet In Ahmedabad

Looks like the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Ahmedabad is making more news about leaders who are not attending than those who are. The focus is not so much about Gandhis — Rahul and Sonia — who attended the meet but Priyanka, General Secretary, who skipped the extended CWC session. It is being said she had taken permission to “skip the AICC session and the just concluded Parliament session to attend a pre-engagement abroad, and the party had accepted her request”. She was out of the country to attend to a relative who is in need of medical help, said senior leader K C Venugopal. Interestingly, Congress ally, Muslim League had expressed concerns over Priyanka’s absence during the Waqf Bill debate.  Jairam Ramesh also pointed out that 35 members were absent from the meeting. More than Priyanka’s absence, what is of significance is the absence of Karnataka Home Minister and prominent Dalit leader G Parameshwara. He skipped the CWC event more because it was made clear to him that he is not being considered for the CM post if the party removed incumbent Siddaramaiah by this year’s end. He has been sulking since his recent Delhi visit. First, he could not get an appointment with Rahul and even party chief Kharge discouraged him from pushing his Dalit CM campaign. Kharge apparently feels such a campaign could hurt prospects of his son Priyank — a minister in Siddaramaiah cabinet — from becoming CM. Meanwhile, to stonewall any regime change a pro Siddaramaiah MLA — Basavaraj Rama Reddy —   has already dubbed the state as “number one in corruption.”  It is feared if the Congress leadership makes DK Shivakumar as CM, it is possible Sidda could once again effect a split in the Congress.