A rare honour for dalit community: Damodar

HYDERABAD: For almost six months it was so near and yet so far. But on Thursday when the news of his appointment to the post of deputy chief minister broke out, minister for agriculture and higher education Damodar Rajanarsimha could not contain his glee.Even before the official confirmation from the Congress party high command came, he had made a lengthy speech and thanked AICC president Sonia Gandhi and chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for reposing confidence in him. Rajanarsimha’s name had been doing the rounds for the post ever since Kiran Kumar Reddy became the chief minister. Speaking to reporters here on Thursday, Rajanarsimha said that it was a rare honour to the Dalit community to which he belonged and the party high command should take more such daring decisions which would bring about vibrant changes in the society. He felt that his appointment to the post was part of the Congress’ aim to balance regional and social equations.When asked if he would remain silent on the Telangana statehood issue as he got a plum post, he evaded direct answer and said “We will take any decision as per the wisdom and depending on the situation. We should wait for the time and the situation to turn ripe,” he said.