Dissident named Punjab Cong chief

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi also named four other state chiefs. They are Mallikarjun Kharge in Karnataka, Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu in Jharkhand, Samir Ranjan Burman in Tripura and Vikram Singh Parmar in Dadra, Nagar & Haveli.

Reacting to Dullo’s appointment, Singh said at the AICC headquarters: ‘‘I favoured continuity, but we all accept the choice of the Congress president.’’ Asked if he was uncomfortable at having to work with a dissident, the Chief Minister said: ‘‘No, Dullo is an old friend and a senior party colleague.’’

Sources said Dullo has been chosen to strike a social and political balance. As a Dalit, Dullo would help consolidate the party’s hold over the weaker sections. Dalits of all hues — Hindus and Sikhs combined — make up over 23 per cent of Punjab’s population. They have traditionally backed Congress, but the BSP has made inroads in the Congress’ base.

The appointment of Kharge, also a Dalit, suggests the Congress is gearing up for a snap poll in Karnataka. It is felt Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Deve Gowda can pull the rug from under the feet of Chief Minister N Dharam Singh any time.

A veteran leader from Gulbarga, Dharam Singh’s home district, Kharge is expected to be the perfect match for Deve Gowda. The latter has been indulging in brinkmanship with coalition partner Congress for the past year and has nibbled away at its base even as he consolidates his own hold.

Dharam Singh’s weak-kneed policy and the lack of adequate support for outgoing PCC chief Janardana Poojary have helped Deve Gowda further his gameplan.

Close friends, Dharam Singh and Kharge are known as ‘Rahu’ and ‘Ketu’ in their district. But sources say their relationship is not as cordial as before after Kharge was denied the Home portfolio at Deve Gowda’s instance. This explains the backing of the S M Krishna group for his candidature.

Kharge, who is Transport and Water Resources Minister at present, is likely to quit the Karnataka ministry.

Balmuchu, a tribal MLA from Ghatsila, replaces Sushila Kerketta. He was state unit chief when his wife, Asha Balmuchu’s name surfaced in the 2002 petrol pump scam. Balmuchu was last in the news as Pro Tem Speaker during Shibu Soren’s tenure as Chief Minister.