Suspense continued over the Congress's chief minister choice in Karnataka even as the central observers, who interacted with the newly elected MLAs, submitted their report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday. Former chief minister Siddaramaiah has already arrived in Delhi to meet the high command while KPCC president D.K. Shivakumar canceled his trip to the national capital citing health reasons. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are frontrunners for the coveted post.
Kharge held a crucial meeting with the observers—Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria—at his residence where AICC in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal were also present. After the meeting, Surjewala told reporters the party will announce its decision by Tuesday evening.
"The observers have submitted the report to the Congress president. We will hold consultations with all senior state leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and after that a decision will be taken by the Congress president," Surjewala said.
A Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday had passed a resolution authorising Kharge to pick the new CM. A section of the media reported that the high command is most likely to choose Siddaramaiah for the CM post as “he enjoys the support of majority of the MLAs”.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar cancelled his Delhi trip, hours after confirming he would be flying to the national capital, fuelling speculations that all is not well in the ruling camp over the CM contender issue. He cited health reasons for the change in his travel plans.
"I have some problem in the stomach. Doctor is coming in ten minutes. It's burning. It looks like some infection and I have fever..... please let me be free...." Shivakumar told reporters.
Siddaramaiah (75) and Shivakumar (60) have been locked in an intense power struggle over who will lead the new government in the state after the party's stupendous victory in the Assembly elections. Both the leaders have made no secret of their ambition to become the chief minister. They were lobbying hard for it with supporters of each one raising the pitch in support of their leader. A poster war by supporters of both leaders also erupted soon after the party won the election.
Siddaramaiah is a leader with mass appeal and has the experience of running a government of full five-year term from 2013-18. Shivakumar has strong organisational capabilities and is considered resourceful and Congress' troubleshooter during tough times. He also has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders.
On Sunday, prominent Vokkaliga pontiff of Adi Chunchanagiri Nirmalananda Natha Swamiji had appealed to the Congress leadership to appoint Shivakumar as the next chief minister.
Shivakumar himself had hinted that he was in the chief ministerial race saying he took everyone along and never sought anything for himself. He, however, brushed aside speculations about differences between him and Siddaramaiah.
In the May 10 polls to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress won 135 seats, the BJP 66 and the JD (S) 19. The results were declared on May 13.
—With inputs from PTI
