Hyderabad: The Karnataka elections result in 2023, which has served as a surprise and shock for the BJP and lifted the sagging morale of the Congress, is also throwing up speculation about the possible face of the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.
One question that has emerged is who will be the next Chief Minister – will it be old war horse Siddaramaiah or the loyal general DK Shivakumar? Though the first hurdle is over, the search for the chief ministerial post can be tough for the triumphant party. The party's cautious approach was obvious when it did not project Siddaramaiah's name as the Chief Minister's post despite his proven track record. Shiva Kumar's win against his rival candidate by over one lakh votes provides fodder to the speculation about his possible choice for the hot seat.
He was the Chief Minister of Karnataka for five years from 2013 to 2018, and many in the party as well as beyond it perceive him as the next logical option. But President of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee DK Shivakumar, a Congress loyalist known for his close proximity with the Gandhi family, can throw up a challenge for Siddaramaiah.
On Saturday, even before the Bommai conceded defeat, Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra went public with comments about his preference for his father for the top post. According to speculation from a quarter, Siddaramaiah, who has declared that this would be his last chief ministerial election, may get the nod of Congress to brass. The rise of DK Shivakumar, who is 14 years younger than Siddaramaih, has also caught the attention of the party bigwigs in New Delhi. For many in the party, Shivakumar, who is an astute leader and popular face in the party, can be given the top post. But certain factors go against him like his image which has received a dent due to corruption charges against him. The fact that he has spent some 104 days in Tihar jail on charges of money laundering and tax evasion, can go against him. Congress fears that though Shivakumar is currently out on bail, but if he is made the CM, then the BJP-led centre could expedite the cases against him. Soon after the victory, an emotional Shivakumar lost no time to address media and recalled how Sonia Gandhi came to meet him at the jail.
