By The Editor
After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Karnataka has been ousted from power by the Congress in the recent Assembly election on May 10 hectic activities have taken place in Bengaluru regarding choice of a party leader who will be chief minister (CM). Two main contenders were former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D.K.Shivakumar. While Siddaramaiah is a leader with mass appeal — he is popular among all sections and had the experience of running the government in the state for full five-year term from 2013 to 2018- Shivakumar is a very capable organiser, quite resourceful and a troubleshooter of the party during hard days and has the backing of dominant Vokkalinga community. Three central observers deputed by the Congress have met all the 135 MLAs (Members of Legislative Assembly) to seek their views and opinions individually and returned to Delhi on Monday, May 15 where they handed over the report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge the same day itself late night. The observers had also brought the ballot boxes with them in which the elected members were instructed for a secret ballot on CM’s name.
The following day on Tuesday, May 16 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met party president Mallikarjun Kharge for discussion on government formation in the southern state. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala who is in-charge of party’s affairs in Karnataka and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C.Venugopal were also present. Both the top leaders have been called to Delhi by party high command for further consultations on government formation. Siddaramaiah at once complied accordingly but Shivakumar cancelled Delhi visit citing stomach ailment which raised suspicion that all was not well over CM contender issue. While Siddaramaiah arrived in Delhi on Monday, May 15 Shivakumar who afterwards changed his mind reached the national capital the following day that is on Tuesday May 16. According to reliable sources former Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will also be consulted over the choice of chief minister and government formation in Karnataka.
Both contenders Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met party chief Kharge and other senior leaders for discussion over government formation in the southern state. After that both of them met former party chief Rahul Gandhi. Meanwhile the newly-elected Congress MLAs had already passed a resolution authorising party chief Kharge to appoint leader of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) who will be the Chief Minister. Finally after all the necessary exercises have been completed and taking due considerations of all concerned Siddaramaiah was chosen to be the CLP leader and chief minister of Karnataka.