After a resounding victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the Congress is treading carefully as it tackles the first big task at hand—choosing the state's new chief minister. The party leadership has not yet been able to come to a conclusion that is agreeable to senior leader Siddaramaiah and KPCC president DK Shivakumar who have been lobbying for the top post.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge led one-on-one discussions with both leaders in Delhi on Tuesday, but the meetings were inconclusive. According to reports, both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have been asked to stay back in Delhi for another round of talks on Wednesday. An official declaration is likely after Kharge consults former party president Sonia Gandhi who will arrive in Delhi from Shimla on Wednesday.
Amid speculations that Siddaramaiah is the frontrunner with the support of majority of MLAs, Shivakumar staked claim to the top post saying he helped rebuild the party in the state and 'delivered' Karnataka as he had promised the Gandhi family. Shivakumar also reportedly told Kharge that Siddaramaiah was the Leader of the Opposition twice and served a full five-year term as the chief minister. The state unit chief has also said he is not willing to accept any other post including that of deputy chief minister, and will continue as an MLA if not given the CM post, News18 reported.
As the deadlock continues and supporters of both leaders resort to 'poster-wars', the Congress might consider a power-sharing equation between the two contenders. Siddaramaiah could take over as the chief minister while Shivakumar continues as the KPCC president for the first two and a half years. In the second term, Shivakumar will be elevated to the CM post, say sources. The Congress cannot antagonise either of the senior leaders as the party gears up for the 2024 general elections.
Kharge earlier held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and the three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday. The three central observers—Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria—had met all Congress MLAs individually and sought their views on who would be their choice of chief minister.
Congress stormed to power in the state in the May 10 elections after winning 135 seats. The BJP was reduced to 66 seats while the JD(S) bagged just 19 seats.
