Kalaburagi (Karnataka) [India], July 5 : Congress MLC Tippanna Kamakanur on Sunday said Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge would become the state's Chief Minister in 2028, while addressing a felicitation programme organised for the minister in Kalaburagi.
Priyank Kharge, Karnataka's Home, e-Governance and Kalaburagi-Yadagiri District In-charge Minister, was accorded a grand welcome during his first visit to the city after taking charge.
Speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the District Congress Committee, MLC Tippanna Kamakanur said the massive reception was proof that Minister Priyank Kharge is one of the most important and prominent ministers in the state government.
"Priyank Kharge is a popular Home Minister. He will win again in the 2028 elections, and while he is Home Minister today, he will become Chief Minister that year," Kamakanur said.
He also said that if there was political will to include the Koli, Kabbalinga and Samanartha communities in the Scheduled Tribe category, "it lies only with Priyank Kharge."
Kamakanur noted that work on installing a statue of Nijasharana Ambigara Chowdayya in Gulbarga is underway, for which the Minister has released ₹17 lakh in grants. "We will gather one lakh people for the unveiling of the statue. We also urge the Minister to ensure a statue of Ambigara Chowdayya is installed in front of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru," he said.
MLAs M.Y. Patil and Allamaprabhu Patil said Priyank Kharge is trusted with portfolios matching his capabilities.
"This is the first time the e-Governance portfolio has been given to a minister other than the CM. IT-BT industry leaders themselves demanded that the IT-BT portfolio be given to Priyank Kharge, which shows his capability," they said.
"We had urged that he be made Deputy Chief Minister. But he has all the qualifications to become Chief Minister," they added.
The leaders also urged Kharge to secure drought relief from the CM, who is scheduled to visit the district on Tuesday. "Drought-like conditions prevail in the district, and demand for drinking water has increased. Kharge should ensure relief is provided," they said.
Earlier, thousands of party workers, supporters and leaders gave Minister Kharge a grand welcome near Nageshwar School in Ganj area and took him in a grand procession to the District Congress office.
MLAs and DCC President Jagadeva Guttedar, B.R. Patil, M.Y. Patil, Allamaprabhu Patil, MLC Tippanna Kamakanur, Mayor Varsha Jaane, Maheboob Saheb Chisti, former Minister Baburao Chinchansur, Mahazar Alam Khan, Praveen Patil Harawal, Shivanand Patil, R.K. Patil, Neelakantrao Mulage, Subhash Rathod, Sharanappa Mattur, Srinivas Sagar, Rajgopal Mudireddy, Somasekhar Gonayak, Dr. Kiran Patil and Sharanu Pappa, among others were present.