Joshi Slams Congress Over Sidelining of Dalit Deputy CM Parameshwara
Synopsis
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi accused the Karnataka Congress government of excluding Deputy CM Dr G. Parameshwara, a senior Dalit leader, from official state advertisements — including one on the D. Devaraj Arasu death anniversary and a 'Green Bengaluru' campaign — calling it a pattern of Congress marginalising Dalit leaders.
Key Takeaways
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi alleged on June 14, 2026 , that Karnataka's Congress government omitted Deputy CM Dr G.
Parameshwara's photograph from at least two official state advertisements.
One advertisement was released on the death anniversary of former CM D.
Devaraj Arasu ; the other was a 'Green Bengaluru' campaign — both excluded Parameshwara.
Joshi also alleged that Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has not formally assumed charge of his portfolio but was still featured in an official advertisement.
Joshi drew a historical parallel, citing the alleged marginalisation of B.R.
Ambedkar, Jagjivan Ram , and Sitaram Kesri as evidence of Congress's pattern of sidelining Dalit leaders.
He noted that when Siddaramaiah was Chief Minister, the Deputy CM's photo was mandatory in government advertisements — a standard he alleged is not being followed now under D.K.
The post, tagged #CongressFailsKarnataka , signals a BJP effort to highlight caste-representation fault lines within the Karnataka Congress coalition.
Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday, June 14, 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Karnataka Congress government, alleging that Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwara, a senior Dalit leader, was being systematically excluded from official state government advertisements — including one marking the death anniversary of former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Arasu and another for a 'Green Bengaluru' initiative.
Context
Joshi posted in Kannada on X, pointing to two specific instances where Parameshwara's photograph was conspicuously absent from government publicity material. The first was an advertisement released on the occasion of the death anniversary of late former Chief Minister D. Devaraj Arasu, a leader historically celebrated for his pro-backward-class and Dalit welfare policies. The second was a 'Green Bengaluru' advertisement that, according to Joshi, omitted the Deputy Chief Minister entirely.
Joshi wrote: 'ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರ ಉಪಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳನ್ನು ಹೊರೆತುಪಡಿಸಿ ಜಾಹಿರಾತು ಪ್ರಕಟಿಸಿತು' ('The state government published the advertisement excluding the Deputy Chief Minister'). He further noted that Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda has not yet formally assumed charge of his portfolio, yet a government advertisement was released featuring his photograph with his ministerial designation.
Policy Backdrop
Dr G. Parameshwara is one of the most prominent Dalit faces in Karnataka's Congress organisation. The Congress returned to power in Karnataka in 2023 on the strength of the AHINDA coalition — an acronym in Kannada representing minorities, backward classes, and Dalits — a social combination closely associated with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his earlier tenure (2013–2018). Parameshwara's inclusion as Deputy CM was widely seen as a signal of the party's commitment to that coalition.
Joshi invoked a longer historical argument, alleging that marginalising Dalit leaders is a pattern embedded in Congress's institutional culture. He cited the alleged insult to Babasaheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the overlooking of Babu Jagjivan Ram, and the removal of Sitaram Kesri from the party presidency as historical examples of the same tendency. His post ended with a pointed contrast: 'ಮಾಜಿ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳಾದ ಸಿದ್ದರಾಮಯ್ಯನವರು ಸಿಎಂ ಇದ್ದಾಗ ಉಪಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಫೋಟೋ ಕಡ್ಡಾಯ ಈಗ ಪರಮೇಶ್ವರ್ ಫೋಟೋ ಇಲ್ಲ!' ('When former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was CM, the Deputy CM's photo was mandatory — now Parameshwara's photo is missing!').
Stakeholders and Impact
The BJP's attack targets a visible fault line within the Karnataka Congress: the management of caste and seniority hierarchies in a coalition government that draws heavily on Dalit and backward-class votes. Parameshwara, who also served as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, carries significant symbolic weight for Dalit communities across the state.
The allegation that Krishna Byre Gowda, assigned as Bengaluru Development Minister, has not yet formally assumed charge of the portfolio — yet appears in official advertisements — adds an administrative dimension to the political criticism. Joshi used the hashtag #CongressFailsKarnataka, signalling a coordinated BJP messaging effort ahead of future electoral cycles in the state.
What's Next
The Karnataka government is likely to face demands for clarification on its advertisement protocols and whether formal guidelines exist for including the Deputy Chief Minister's photograph in official publicity. Any response from Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar or Deputy CM Parameshwara himself will be closely watched, as will the question of whether Krishna Byre Gowda formally assumes his Bengaluru Development portfolio. For the BJP, the post forms part of a broader effort to peel away Dalit and backward-class voters from the Congress in Karnataka by framing the ruling party as internally inconsistent on social justice.
Point of View
Framing an advertisement omission as proof of structural Dalit marginalisation within the party. By invoking Ambedkar, Jagjivan Ram, and Sitaram Kesri in the same breath as a photograph controversy, Joshi attempts to elevate a protocol dispute into a civilisational indictment of Congress's relationship with Dalit leadership. The contrast he draws — mandatory Deputy CM photos under Siddaramaiah versus their alleged absence under Shivakumar — is designed to suggest internal hierarchy and caste-based power imbalance at the top of the Karnataka government. This fits a wider BJP pattern of using social-justice framing to contest Congress's self-image as the natural home of marginalised communities.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Pralhad Joshi criticising the Karnataka Congress government?
Joshi alleged that the Karnataka Congress government excluded Deputy CM Dr G. Parameshwara's photograph from official state advertisements, including one on the D. Devaraj Arasu death anniversary and a 'Green Bengaluru' campaign, calling it evidence of Congress marginalising Dalit leaders.
Who is Dr G. Parameshwara and why does his omission matter?
Dr G. Parameshwara is a senior Dalit leader in Karnataka Congress who serves as Deputy Chief Minister; his omission from official government advertisements is politically significant because the Congress government came to power partly on its AHINDA coalition of Dalit and backward-class voters.
What is the AHINDA coalition in Karnataka politics?
AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits — a social coalition closely associated with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah that has been central to Congress's electoral strategy in Karnataka.
What is the controversy around Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda?
Joshi alleged that Krishna Byre Gowda has not yet formally assumed charge as Bengaluru Development Minister but was still featured with his ministerial designation in an official government advertisement, misleading the public.
What historical examples did Joshi cite to support his argument?
Joshi cited the alleged insult to Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the overlooking of Babu Jagjivan Ram, and the removal of Sitaram Kesri from the Congress party presidency as historical instances of the party marginalising Dalit and backward-class leaders.
