Bengaluru: Congress beat the BJP hands down in the Karnataka Assembly elections, but they now face what could be an equally tough battle – choosing the chief minister.
There was never any doubt that state chief DK Shivakumar and outgoing Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah were the two tallest leaders of the party in Karnataka.
The two of them worked together to ensure victory for the grand old party against a very tough opposition, but there is no doubt that both harbour aspirations of becoming the chief minister.
And on Sunday, it was crystal clear that Congress high command has a tough job in choosing the between the two as supporters of both camps pasted posters all over demanding their ‘man’ be appointed chief minister.
Videos of posters outside the Bengaluru homes of Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah were shared by ANI.
#WATCH | Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar’s supporters put up a poster outside his residence in Bengaluru, demanding DK Shivakumar to be declared as “CM” of the state. pic.twitter.com/N6hFXSntJy
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2023
#WATCH | Supporters of senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah put up a poster outside Siddaramaiah’s residence in Bengaluru, referring to him as “the next CM of Karnataka.” pic.twitter.com/GDLIAQFbjs
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2023
After the BJP conceded defeat on Saturday afternoon, an emotional Shivakumar seemed to make his first pitch by saying ‘I delivered Karnataka…’ even as he broke down while thanking Sonia Gandhi for visiting him in Tihar jail in Delhi in 2020.
Shivakumar yesterday played down any talk of confrontation in deciding the chief minister, insisting the decision would be taken in the ‘temple’ that is the party’s Delhi office and that his only concern is to ensure good governance for the people of Karnataka and development of the state.
He won from his Kanakapura stronghold by over 1.2 lakh votes.
His ‘rival’ Siddaramaiah, a battle-hardened veteran politician who has served as both CM and deputy CM, is seen as the more popular face of the party. Before winning his ninth electoral battle, the 75-year-old had said this would be his last and he will retire from electoral politics.
The Congress has called a meeting of its legislators at 5.30 pm this evening.
How the party keeps both contenders happy remains to be seen.
The high command will only hope and pray that it doesn’t face a Rajasthan-like Ashok Gehlot vs Sachin Pilot situation.
