The race for the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka has intensified after the Congress’s victory in the assembly elections. While the party’s state president, Shivakumar, has made it clear that he is not interested in the deputy chief minister post, he has demanded “all or nothing” from the Congress brass.
Sources close to the development said that Shivakumar had also questioned the achievements of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah in his three-year tenure. Siddaramaiah, who is considered the front-runner for the Chief Minister’s post, has based his bid on his popularity, the support of the MLAs, and his five-year tenure as Chief Minister.
Siddaramaiah’s Legacy Questioned: Shivakumar’s Query on Accomplishments
Earlier, sources close to Shivakumar had revealed that he was offered the post of deputy chief minister along with six portfolios, but he had declined the offer. Shivakumar has been taking a strong position, claiming that the assembly polls were won under his leadership as state party chief and that he had worked hard for ensuring this victory.
There were also reports of a second round of meetings between Shivakumar and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, with Rahul Gandhi also expected to attend the meeting. However, after the meeting, Shivakumar was seen leaving the residence of his brother and Congress MP, DK Suresh, and he replied, “Nothing, no discussion. Just pranaam…” when asked about his meeting with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.)
Reports indicate that Siddaramaiah could be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, with his swearing-in likely to take place on Thursday. However, the Congress has rejected these reports and stated that the deliberations on the Chief Minister’s post are still underway.
AICC in-charge of state Randeep Singh Surjewala has also asserted that Karnataka will have a five-year-long stable government and urged people not to believe in speculation and “fake news” which, he alleged, was being peddled by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Lingering Uncertainty: Lingayat Factor and BJP’s Influence in the Equation
The meetings between Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and Rahul Gandhi came a day after the two leaders held separate meetings with Kharge at his residence and discussed issues regarding the government formation.
The Karnataka CM race is not only between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Other Congress leaders are also in the race, including MB Patil, who had earlier served as a minister in the Siddaramaiah government, and HK Patil, who is a former minister and a prominent Lingayat leader.
The Lingayat community is considered to be a key factor in Karnataka politics, and the Congress is reportedly considering a Lingayat leader for the Chief Minister’s post to counter the BJP’s influence in the community.
Apart from the Congress, the BJP is also in the race for the Chief Minister’s post. The party had won 104 seats in the assembly elections, and its chief ministerial candidate, BS Yeddyurappa, had resigned after failing to secure a majority. The BJP is reportedly considering the names of former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, former Deputy Chief Minister R Ashok, and BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel for the post.
The JD(S), which had formed a coalition government with the Congress after the 2018 assembly elections, had won only 25 seats in the recent elections. The party’s chief, HD Kumaraswamy, had resigned as Chief Minister after the coalition government collapsed.
In conclusion, the race for the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka is still underway, with the Congress weighing its options carefully. While Siddaramaiah is seen as the front-runner, DK Shivakumar’s demand for “all or nothing” has added a new twist to the race. The Lingayat factor and the BJP’s influence in the state are also likely to
play significant roles in determining the outcome of the CM race.
The intense competition for the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka has captivated the political landscape in the state. Following the resounding victory of the Congress party in the assembly elections, the party’s state president, DK Shivakumar, has asserted his stance by explicitly stating that he is not interested in assuming the role of deputy chief minister. Instead, Shivakumar has made it abundantly clear to the Congress leadership that he demands “all or nothing,” indicating his aspiration for the coveted Chief Minister position.
Sources familiar with the matter have disclosed that Shivakumar took the opportunity to question the achievements and accomplishments of Siddaramaiah, the prominent contender for the Chief Minister’s post, during his three-year tenure. Siddaramaiah, on the other hand, has built his bid for the position on a foundation of broad MLA support, surveys indicating his popularity, and his previous five-year tenure as
Speculations and Denials: Siddaramaiah Emerges as Frontrunner?
Earlier reports had emerged suggesting that Shivakumar was offered the position of deputy chief minister along with six portfolios. However, Shivakumar declined the offer, standing firm in his stance of pursuing the top leadership position. Asserting his authority, Shivakumar claims that the success in the assembly polls was achieved under his leadership as the state party chief and that he has dedicatedly worked towards securing this remarkable victory.
Amidst the ongoing developments, speculation arose about a second round of meetings scheduled between Shivakumar, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, and the presence of Rahul Gandhi. However, after the meeting concluded, Shivakumar was spotted leaving the residence of his brother and Congress MP, DK Suresh. When questioned about the meeting with Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, Shivakumar simply replied with, “Nothing, no discussion. Just pranaam…” leaving the nature and outcomes of the meeting to speculation.
Recent reports have surfaced indicating that Siddaramaiah might emerge as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, with his swearing-in ceremony speculated to take place on Thursday. However, the Congress has promptly dismissed these reports, emphasizing that the process of deliberation regarding the Chief Minister’s post is still ongoing.
Coalition Dynamics: Key Meetings and Deliberations Shape the Future.
AICC in-charge of the state, Randeep Singh Surjewala, has vehemently affirmed that Karnataka will witness the formation of a stable government that will span over a period of five years. He urged the public not to give credence to rumors and “fake news” being disseminated by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), emphasizing the need for factual information to guide public perception.
The discussions between Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, and Rahul Gandhi followed separate meetings between the two leaders and Kharge at his residence, where they engaged in deliberations concerning the formation of the government. These meetings serve as crucial platforms for exchanging ideas, aligning strategies, and ultimately shaping the course of action to be pursued.
The race for the Chief Minister’s post in Karnataka extends beyond the competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Other influential leaders within the Congress party are also vying for the position, such as MB Patil, who previously served as a minister in the Siddaramaiah government, and HK Patil, a former minister and a prominent figure within the Lingayat community.
The Lingayat community plays a pivotal role in Karnataka politics, and its influence cannot be underestimated. In an effort to counter the BJP’s stronghold over the community, the Congress party is purportedly considering a Lingayat leader for the Chief Minister’s post.
In addition to the Congress, the BJP also remains a formidable contender in the race for the Chief Minister’s position. With 104 seats secured in the assembly elections, the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, BS Yeddyurappa, had resigned after failing to obtain a majority. Currently