The scheduled 6.30pm start to the CLP meeting got pushed by almost an hour as DKS, the PCC chief, apparently kept everyone waiting until a call from Kharge got him to the venue at 7.13pm.
Till the tension got to everyone, newly elected MLAs trooping to the meeting had hoped that given how cohesive Congress looked in battle and victory – much public handholding, photoshoots and joint interviews – the election of a new CLP leader would be just as smooth. That proved not to be the case.
With neither ex-CM Siddaramaiah nor DKS showing any sign of backing down, accentuated by sloganeering and drama at the meeting hall, Kharge and the Gandhis now need to play hardball to get either of the two to retreat or agree to a split term as CM in the interest of the party.
The process of seeking MLAs’ opinion will be over Monday night in Bengaluru, sources said. Both Siddaramaiah and DKS will then travel to meet Rahul Gandhi in the national capital. The party has tentatively scheduled the swearing-in of the new CM on May 18.
08:43
I have no differences with Siddaramaiah: DK Shivakumar
That the two camps were ready to fight it out was visible early Sunday, with both Siddaramaiah and DKS out seeking support wherever they could find it. Hours after office-bearers of Kurubara Sangha met to demand the CM’s post for Siddaramaiah, seen as a champion of the OBC community, Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, an influential Vokkaliga seminary, backed Shivakumar for the top job.
DKS did the rounds of temples and mutts, and held strategy sessions with supporters at his house. After visiting Nonavinakere Mutt in Tumakuru, he said, “I have endured torture, including a jail term, for the party’s sake. I was patient when Siddaramaiah was given the opportunity to be CM [in 2013]. Now it is time for justice to prevail.”
Siddaramaiah publicly didn’t say much, leaving it to his supporters to make his case.
“Ensuring a stable government is the most important thing,” said former minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, who won the Yelaburga seat. “It’s better to have one chief minister for the full term. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are equally eligible. While Shivakumar has worked hard to build the party, Siddaramaiah is popular among the people. If you ask me, Siddaramaiah should be CM for a full term, but that is up to the high command.”
Supporters of Siddaramaiah, who at 75 is looking at perhaps his last shot at the chief ministership, claimed about 70% of Congress’s 136 MLAs were backing him. Shivakumar’s backers insisted he had just as much support.
“Shivakumar is eligible to be CM by any yardstick,” said Nirmalanandanatha Swami. “He has worked hard to build the party, and he should be rewarded. Normally, the state president takes over the reins if the party wins an election. I hope Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, and Rahul Gandhi will do justice to Shivakumar.”
The DKS camp said legislators from both the major communities, Vokkaliga and Lingayat, were rooting for him. Congress has 37 Lingayat and 29 Vokkaliga MLAs. About 80% of the 35 first-time MLAs are with Shivakumar since it was he who gave them a chance to contest the polls, an aide said.
“There is no question of a first term or second term; Shivakumar should get the opportunity to lead the government for the entire term,” said H D Ranganath, the Kunigal MLA.
The action now moves to Delhi.
Watch Bengaluru: Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and other Congress leaders arrive for CLP meet
