Bengaluru, May 8 Karnataka Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, IT and Biotechnology Priyank Kharge, who is also the son of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, said on Friday that a meeting would be held later in the day to take a decision on the Chief Minister's post in Kerala, and that the decision would subsequently be conveyed to the party high command.
Speaking to the media, Minister Kharge said, "A clear mandate has been achieved in Kerala. Today, discussions will be held with everyone concerned and the decision will be conveyed to the Congress high command. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi will make the final announcement. Everyone has stated that they will abide by the decision of the party high command."
Commenting on the political developments in Tamil Nadu, the Karnataka Minister said, "The mandate in Tamil Nadu is not sufficient, and the Governor is creating obstacles. The opportunity given in other states must also be given here. The majority need not be proved at the Governor's residence; it has to be proved on the floor of the House. If the majority cannot be proved in the House, that is a different matter. But how is it possible to demand proof of majority before that?"
He also alleged that, for the past 10 years, Governors' offices have been functioning like offices of the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
"How many signatures were taken when the swearing-in ceremony was held in Maharashtra at 5 a.m.? How many times has the Tamil Nadu Governor walked out? Those holding Constitutional posts are not above the Constitution. Politics should not be pursued through Constitutional offices. Why do you want to diminish the dignity of the post by mixing it with politics?" he asked.
Responding to the IPL match-shifting row, Priyank Kharge stirred controversy by asking whether Union Home Minister Amit Shah watches cricket matches by paying for tickets or watches them for free.
Minister Kharge made the statement while responding to questions from the media regarding the shifting of IPL matches from Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium.
When asked whether pressure from MLAs seeking IPL tickets had led to the matches being shifted, the Karnataka Minister said, "Legislators had asked for IPL tickets. It is not as though only MPs sought tickets. Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka himself raised the issue on the floor of the House, and everyone later supported it."
"Some people have said it is wrong to provide IPL tickets to legislators. Already, five or six matches have been held. How were those matches conducted? Now, the matches are being shifted to Gujarat for profits. The Leader of the Opposition (R. Ashoka) himself sought tickets. Does that mean the BJP is responsible for the matches being shifted out of Bengaluru?" Minister Kharge asked.
He also alleged that baseless statements should not be made regarding the issue.
"They (BJP) wanted higher profits and therefore shifted the matches out of Bengaluru. They are doing injustice to Karnataka in the same way they divert investments away from the state," he charged.
He also clarified that there were no security concerns involving legislators or MPs.
"I do not know who sent the mail regarding the issue. The IPL matches could have been organised in Mumbai as well. Why are all the matches being shifted only to Gujarat? This has already been condemned by the Chief Minister (Siddaramaiah) and Deputy Chief Minister (D.K. Shivakumar). No legislator had asked for any specific number of tickets," Minister Kharge said.
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