After winning the Karnataka elections, the Congress is now searching for the right person to sit on the chief minister’s chair, but they are caught in a dilemma as both senior leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar are strong contenders. While both the leaders are leaving no stone unturned to rally support for their candidature among the newly elected MLAs, according to insiders, Siddaramaiah has an edge.
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Hours before the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, where AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC observers, Karnataka Congress office-bearers and elected legislators will sit to take the final call, Kharge called Gandhi to come together and discuss the crucial decision. Called the family. A winning formula that will reward both the leaders for their effort to bring the Congress back to power in Karnataka with a thumping majority of 136 out of 224 assembly constituencies.
Not wanting a repeat of Rajasthan in Karnataka, top Congress leaders are treading carefully as they try to answer the million-dollar question – who will become the chief minister of Karnataka?
It is learned that the Congress high command has two formulas to decide.
Option 1
The Congress high command’s first option is 50:50, where both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar will be chief ministers for two-and-a-half years each to ensure that both are rewarded equally for their efforts.
Even though the Congress launched its attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the very beginning on issues such as corruption, unemployment, price rise and LPG prices, Shivakumar took command of the party workers in the state, strategizing with Siddaramaiah so that the candidates Can get work Won support till the last booth in their respective constituencies and campaigned extensively to bring the party to power with absolute majority.
Siddaramaiah was also in line with the party’s central leadership’s request to iron out his differences with Shivakumar and work to oust the BJP from the seat of power. The committed leader reluctantly agreed to give up his dream of contesting from Kolar, apart from Varuna, who, if Congress insiders are to be believed, was done with the promise of making him the CM.
Option 2
Another option is that the Congress could persuade Shivakumar by offering him the key ministries he had sought earlier – water resources and energy – and the post of deputy chief minister. They are also requesting him to wait for this term, as by the next election, he will be a “candidate” for the coveted post.
His rival in the CM race Siddaramaiah had declared that this would be his last election.
Strength
Siddaramaiah has been holding closed-door meetings where he is seeking the support of legislators to make his case to the central high command as to why he should be made the chief minister.
Shivakumar has also been speaking to the newly elected MLAs to garner their support and nominate him as their chief ministerial candidate of choice. Ever since the Congress found itself in the lead on the day of counting, efforts are being made to field Shivkumar. A poster campaign showing DKS as CM, followers shouting ‘DK, DK’ during joint press conference of Congress leadership to thank voters and party workers have certainly caught the attention of the high command.
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Insiders also tell News18 that Siddaramaiah, with his earlier experience as CM in 2013, has a slight edge and is considered a shrewd administrator and his appeal among backward classes makes him the state’s most popular candidate compared to Shivakumar. A great mass makes a leader. DKS, undoubtedly a superior strategist, with unique organizational quality with a head down approach, has been the Congress’ trouble-shooter not only in Karnataka but across India. which they rely on at the resort to “keep legislators safe” and ensure that Congress stays united.
I am a Congressman till my last breath. BJP offered me the post of deputy CM or jail. I chose jail because I am a committed Congress worker,” Shivakumar had told News18.
“Siddaramaiah is indeed a towering leader and he is the only CM who has completed his term in office after Devaraj Urs. If he is now named CM for a full five-term term, he will break records in the history of Karnataka, becoming the only CM to have two full terms with an absolute majority. He is hugely popular as a chief minister, an excellent administrator, and his schemes have been most impressive,” said a senior leader close to Siddaramaiah.
weaknesses
Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have their own sore spots. Despite his widespread support and popularity, Siddaramaiah is still considered an “outsider” in the Congress, having joined the Congress only in 2008 after leaving the JDS.
SM Krishna, now a favorite of the Congress high command, fought a long and relentless battle to bring the Congress to power, despite being arrested and jailed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of money laundering. , Despite being made Karnataka Congress President in 2020, the words ‘IT and ED’ hang over his head.
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“If it was not for the cases that ED has slapped on him, he would have been the person for the post. We all know that by arresting him by ED and Income Tax (IT) officials, BJP will leave no stone unturned to tarnish his image and ruin his chance of becoming the chief minister. They can do anything.
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Interestingly, Sivakumar was seen at the samadhi of his guru, Kadusiddheshwara Swamiji, at the mutt of Nonvinakere.
“I owe everything to my Guru Ajjayya, who made me who I am today. I offer my everything at his feet. This is a place where I come to share my good and bad moments. My Guru gives me immense strength to overcome troubles and blessings and gives me the strength to be grateful when I have good news to share.’