Mysuru: Sericulture and animal husbandry minister K Venkatesh, who is also Chamarajanagar district minister, stated that the CM’s post is not vacant, and the question of whether a Vokkaliga, Lingayat, or Dalit leader should become the CM will arise only when the post falls vacant.Speaking to reporters at the ZP hall premises here on Monday, Venkatesh said he was unaware of whether there was any internal demand within the party for a Dalit chief minister.Responding to a question on the ‘Dalit CM’ slogan, he said social welfare minister H C Mahadevappa is his close friend, and he would be happy if Mahadevappa became chief minister. “I will certainly wish for my friend,” he added.Reacting to the resumption of safari activities in Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park, the minister clarified that the govt did not restart the safari services arbitrarily. He said an expert committee was constituted, and the decision was taken based on its report. “If farmers protest without valid reasons, there is little we can say,” he said.
