G Parameshwara Set to Return as Karnataka Deputy CM: Dalit Pioneer With a PhD and Decades of Loyalty

Senior Congress leader G. Parameshwara is likely to return as Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister under Chief Minister-designate D. K. Shivakumar, according to party sources. The anticipated appointment would mark Parameshwara’s second stint in the post and comes amid discussions within the Congress over the composition of the new state government following the party’s recent leadership transition. Sources indicate that Parameshwara is expected to be the sole deputy chief minister, although some factions within the party have reportedly advocated for multiple deputy chief minister positions.

Parameshwara, one of Karnataka Congress’s most experienced leaders, has long been regarded as a prominent voice for Dalit representation within the party. Born on August 6, 1951, in Gollahalli village in Tumakuru district, he became the first Dalit leader to serve as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka. He is also recognized as the longest-serving president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, having led the state unit for nearly eight years across two consecutive terms.

Unlike many career politicians, Parameshwara entered public life with a strong academic background. He earned undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in agriculture from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru, before completing a doctorate in plant physiology from the University of Adelaide in Australia. Prior to entering politics, he was actively involved in managing educational institutions established by his father, G. Gangadharaiah, and gained recognition for his administrative abilities.

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His political journey began in 1989 after an interaction with former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who reportedly encouraged him to join public life. That same year, Parameshwara entered electoral politics and won his first assembly election from the Madhugiri constituency. Over the following decades, he held several important portfolios, including higher education, science and technology, and later served as Karnataka’s home minister.

Parameshwara first became Deputy Chief Minister in May 2018 during the Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government headed by H.D. Kumaraswamy. However, the coalition collapsed in 2019 following political defections, cutting short his tenure. Despite setbacks, he remained one of the Congress party’s most influential leaders in Karnataka and continued to play a key role in state politics. Since May 2023, he has served as Karnataka’s home minister.

If formally appointed, Parameshwara’s return to the Deputy Chief Minister’s office would represent another significant milestone in a political career spanning more than three decades. Widely respected within Congress for his organizational experience and loyalty to the party, he is expected to play a crucial role in supporting the incoming administration led by D.K. Shivakumar while continuing to advocate for broader representation of marginalized communities in Karnataka’s political landscape.

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