Karnataka Assembly results: Three candidates in the fray to become next Chief Minister

 

As Congress swept to victory in Karnataka, the question of who will be the Chief Minister will be a huge challenge that the party will have to confront. While KPCC President DK Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah are the two obvious contenders, sources indicated that party President and veteran Mallikarjun Kharge, too, might be in the running. 

Sources in the party close to the development told businessline that the ‘High Command’ an euphemism insiders use for the Gandhi troika — Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka — will try and evolve a consensus. Party observers will try and collect individual opinion of the newly elected legislators but would ultimately leave the choice to the ‘High Command.’

Another formula being touted is that Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar would have the chair for 30 months each in rotation like earlier it was decided in Chhattisgarh.  

DK Shivakumar receiving the winning certificate after winning the kanakapura assembly seat.

CLP leader in outgoing assembly and former CM Siddaramiah along with his son Yatindra - who vacated the Varuna seat for him - celebrating with party workers after his win.

Congress leader Siddaramaiah reacts during a press conference as the party leads in Assembly polls on the vote counting day, in Mysuru.

New Delhi: Congress supporters celebrate the party's good show in Karnataka Assembly polls at the AICC headquarters, in New Delhi.

Congress party office on the vote counting day of Karnataka Assembly polls, in Bengaluru

Congress leaders and workers celebrate at the party office as the party leads in early trends on the vote counting day of Karnataka Assembly polls, in Bengaluru

Congress supporters celebrate at AICC headquarters on the vote counting day of Karnataka Assembly polls, in New Delhi.

Vote counting set to begin at a booth in Dharawad district.

Vote counting begins at Mysuru district for the 224 assembly seats in Karnataka

Vote counting on in Dharawad district

Election officials getting ready in Gadag district for counting for Karnataka’s 224 assembly seats

Hubballi: Counting of votes for Karnataka Assembly polls underway at a centre in Hubballi, Saturday, May 13, 2023. (PTI Photo) (PTI05_13_2023_000013A)

Congress National President and Dalit leader  Mallikarjun Kharge, who has missed becoming CM at least three times in the past, might emerge as a dark horse and be a consensus candidate in case both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah refuse to agree on rotating the CM-ship proposal, the sources added. 

Both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar have not made any clear remarks on who will take the top position, post winning the polls. Both the leaders have remained tight-lipped and at the most have said that “the decision will be made by the Congress high command after consulting all the winning MLAs of the party.” However, the aspirations of both leaders to be CM have been clear.  

A very tricky decision lies ahead for the party now, to choose between the former CM and party president, or go to Kharge to try and avoid internal conflict. 61-year-old DK Shivakumar is known as the party’s “troubleshooter” and has been with the Congress since the beginning of his political career. He has not lost a single election since his first victory in 1989. However, he also faces multiple corruption charges and was even sent to Delhi’s Tihar Jail before he was released on a bail. 

75-year-old Siddaramaiah, on the other hand, is considered a mass leader with a strong foothold in the State. The seniority card may work for him as he has been emphasising that the 2023 elections would be the last of his political journey. He joined Congress in 2006 from JDS post a fallout. He went on to become the Chief Minister after the 2013 polls.

 

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Why A Chunk Of Lingayats, Traditional BJP Supporters, Voted For Congress

 

Bengaluru:

The stepping down of BS Yediyurappa as the Chief Minister cost the BJP dear in the Karnataka assembly election in terms of Lingayat vote. Club it with the refusal of ticket to former Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar and Laxman Savadi, the state's former Deputy Chief Minister, and it is a formula for failure in a chunk of seats where the Lingayat vote is decisive.

Lingayats account for 17 per cent of Karnataka's population and can potentially swing outcomes in around 80 seats. Of these, the Congress won 53 seats, the BJP 20. Overall, the Congress won 135 of the 224 assembly seats. Its ally, Sarvodaya Karnataka Paksha, won one seat. 

Ironically, it is the Lingayat support that enabled the BJP to make inroads into the only southern state where they have a presence. The community, initially supporters of the Congress, shifted their loyalty to the BJP in the '80s after former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi abruptly sacked Lingayat Chief Minister Veerendra Patil.

Today, they are the state's single largest community and comprise nearly 17 per cent of the population, which makes their support crucial for victory.

Asked about the matter, senior Congress leaders pointed out that the community was hugely upset when Mr Yediyurappa was forced to step down in July 2021 during his fourth term, following a string of corruption allegations against him. The 77-year-old was the tallest leader of the community, which saw the party's move as a significant slight.

The installation of Basavaraj Bommai -- a supporter of Mr Yediyurappa -- did not mend the breach. A group of 500 powerful Lingayat sadhus had gathered to protest and one of them had warned at the time that the damage will be "irreparable".

Later, a Lingayat seer's complaint that even mutts are having to pay a 30 per cent commission to the government, had further eroded the BJP's standing among the community.

In the run-up to the polls came the next shock -- refusal of ticket to Jagdish Shettar, a former Chief Minister of the state and Mr Savadi, a former Deputy Chief Minister. It was enough to alienate the politically crucial community, which has given the state nine Chief Ministers.

The anger went too deep for a salve of extra reservation in jobs and education to heal.

In March, the ruling BJP had scrapped the four per cent Other Backward Classes reservation for Muslims and parcelled it out between the Lingayats, Vokkaligas and Scheduled Castes and Tribes. The Lingayats had got the biggest chunk – 7 per cent – in an effort to draw the community's support.

 

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