The Battle for Chief Ministership: Siddaramaiah vs. D.K. Shivakumar - Who Will Lead Karnataka?

After the thumping victory in Karnataka, the focus in Congress party has now shifted on who will become the Chief Minister.

Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar are in the forefront for the coveted post and both are looking at the high command for its decision.

Siddaramaiah, while answering a question on who will become the CM, stated on Saturday that the high command will take the opinion of newly-elected MLAs and a decision would be taken accordingly.
The observers will be sent here by the high command and a decision would be taken later after consultations and due process, he added.

Shivakumar also maintained that the high command will take a call.

Sources explained that the high command is coming up with a 50:50 formula for Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, as the stakes are huge for the party in the runup to the Lok Sabha elections.

Siddaramaiah is known as the mass leader of Ahinda (Alpsankhyak, Hindulida and Dalit) group comprising minorities, backwards and Dalits. He played a crucial role in policy making and manifesto promises. He is also known for his stinging criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and the RSS.


Shivakumar had built the party from the scratch in the state when BJP poached its top leaders, including sitting ministers in 2019. He organised the party and pooled in resources. He hails from the prominent Vokkaliga community and managed to get the majority of votes from them for the Congress party.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah stated that results of state assembly elections are a warning bell for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP for the next year's Lok Sabha polls.

He said the results have shown that the people will vote against BJP, and in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, parties other than BJP would form the government at the Centre.


Speaking to reporters, Siddaramaiah maintained that the victory has boosted morale of the party and with this enthusiasm the workers and cadres of Congress will march ahead. It is a mandate against PM Modi and BJP National President J.P. Nadda, he added.

Karnataka people are fed with the BJP government. There was strong anti-incumbency. BJP did not come to power on mandate in 2008 and 2018. There was a fractured verdict, they grabbed the power with 'operation lotus', he said.

Siddaramaiah further stated that they (people) knew which party could come to power. Congress was sure of their preference. There was this hate party. People of Karnataka won't tolerate the hate party and criminal politics, he stated targeting BJP.
Elsewhere in the city, addressing reporters, D.K. Shivakumar broke down after defeating his BJP rival R. Ashoka by a whopping 76,408 votes in Kanakapura Assembly constituency.


Shivakumar said that the "BJP had hatched a conspiracy and gave me options of whether going to the prison or joining BJP. I opted to go to the prison. Sonia Gandhi met me in the Tihar jail, she believed me so much".

Shivakumar could not control his emotions and started crying while speaking.

"I had given a promise. I have kept my word of achieving victory in the state to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge," he said.


Shivakumar thanked the voters of Karnataka for giving a majority to the Congress.

"This victory was possible due to the efforts of party workers and leaders. This success has not come from a single person. I congratulate Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and others," he said. - IANS