The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, DK Shivakumar, has thrown his hat in the ring for the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka, following the Congress party’s victory in the recent state assembly elections. Mr. Shivakumar, who visited the Siddaganga Mutt in Tumkur, denied rumors of a rift between himself and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, stating that he had “sacrificed several times” for the party and had cooperated with Mr. Siddaramaiah in the past.
Both Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Siddaramaiah are seen as the frontrunners for the chief ministerial post, which is expected to be a delicate balancing act for the Congress party. Caste, region, and seniority are some of the factors that will be considered while making the choice. Mr. Shivakumar belongs to the influential Vokkaliga community, which dominates southern Karnataka, while Mr. Siddaramaiah is a Kuruba, a backward caste group that has a sizable presence in central and northern Karnataka.
The Congress party has called a meeting of its newly elected legislators to pass a resolution authorizing the party’s top leadership to decide on the chief ministerial candidate. The views of all legislators will be sought before a final decision is made. While both Mr. Shivakumar and Mr. Siddaramaiah command legions of supporters who have been lobbying for their candidature, the choice of Chief Minister will depend on the party’s calculations and strategy.
Posters were put up outside Mr. Shivakumar’s residence in Bengaluru, wishing him an advance birthday and greeting him as “the new chief minister of Karnataka”. Similar posters were also seen outside Mr. Siddaramaiah’s residence in Bengaluru, calling him “the next CM of Karnataka”. The Congress party’s victory in the state assembly elections has put it in a strong position to form the government in Karnataka, and the choice of Chief Minister will be crucial for its prospects in the state.
