Mangaluru: Continuing his tirade against the Karnataka Chief Minister, senior Congress leader B Janardhana Poojary on Monday said Siddaramaiah should be replaced by a Dalit or another leader if the Congress wants to retain power in the 2018 assembly elections.

Naming Home Minister G Parameshwara, a Dalit leader, as the most suitable candidate for the post of chief minister, he said the names of Energy Minister D K Shivakumar or former Chief Minister S M Krishna could also be considered.

Citing an opinion survey by a TV channel, the former union minister said the Congress had no chance of returning to power under the leadership of Siddaramaiah.

The chief minister was ‘dozing off’ while the survey result was gaining ground among the people, he told reporters here.

Poojary alleged that Siddaramaiah knew that he would not be in power and was trying to disintegrate the party ahead of his exit.

Around 15 MLAs were attempting rebellion against the party because of the wrong policies adopted by the chief minister, he charged.

“If you cannot keep the party leaders and workers together, then how will you lead the six crore people of the state” he asked, adding, the Congress came to power last time with the untiring efforts of party workers and not on the clout of Siddaramaiah.

He said BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa’s remark that the Congress was disintegrating in the state was correct.

The AICC had not taken heed to the warning he had conveyed to them on the ‘impending disaster’ facing the party in the state and this would only help the Opposition, Poojary said.