After sweeping the Karnataka elections by a huge majority and defeating the BJP, the Congress has returned to power in the state after seven years. Top contenders for the chief ministerial post in the state include union ministers Mallikarjun Kharge and Veerappa Moily and state leader K Siddaramaiah.
Sources close to the party top brass have indicated that the likely name creating a buzz is that of party loyalist Kharge, as the top bosses are quite keen on his nomination as the state's chief minister. Also falling in line are other choices like Moily and Siddaramaiah. Congress General Secretary Madhusudan Mistry, and also a key Rahul Gandhi said a final decision on the candidate would be taken soon. ' I can't say as of now who will be the chief minister. MLAs can choose their leader. I can't say if someone from the Centre will come to rule in Karnataka. There was hardly any governance in Karnataka for the past two-three years. It was disgusting. Rahul rallied in nine places. It is not a small thing and that is not a joke.'
While Siddaramaiah projected himself as 'the strongest contender for chief minister’s post'. 'We will give a pro-people government, a corruption free government to the people of Karnataka. BJP must know that people were fed up of their corruption. I want to thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. Rahul's rallies made a difference in Karnataka. No Modi factor in Karnataka. I am a strong contender, CM decision will be made by congress high command,' he said. State party functionaries Siddaramaiah, is a genuine mass leader in the Old Mysore area, but his weakness lies in the fact that he is a recent party entrant. After differences with his mentor Deve Gowda, in 2006, Siddaramaiah joined the Congress.
Backing him, Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Moily said, 'Siddaramaiah deserves to be considered for chief minister. He has done a good job. I have not indicated that I want to be chief minister, aspiring to be chief minister is not a sin. I never asked for oil ministry. I was given in interest of the nation.' Incidentally Moily is the second choice of the party top bosses for this post.
One of the strongest contenders in the race- union labour and employment minister Mallikarjun Kharge - left the final decision to the Congress high command. Being a Dalit leader from Gulbarga he also has a broad following, including among Lingayats in north Karnataka. 'If the Congress party thinks I am fit for the office then I can be considered. I should not be considered because I am a Dalit. Whatever the high command decides, I'll abide by that. In Congress party everybody is capable and it is up to the high command to decide. After elections Congress will send observers. MLAs will also be taken into consideration. Ultimately the party high command will take the decision on who will be chief minister.'
Sources close to the party top brass have indicated that the likely name creating a buzz is that of party loyalist Kharge, as the top bosses are quite keen on his nomination as the state's chief minister. Also falling in line are other choices like Moily and Siddaramaiah. Congress General Secretary Madhusudan Mistry, and also a key Rahul Gandhi said a final decision on the candidate would be taken soon. ' I can't say as of now who will be the chief minister. MLAs can choose their leader. I can't say if someone from the Centre will come to rule in Karnataka. There was hardly any governance in Karnataka for the past two-three years. It was disgusting. Rahul rallied in nine places. It is not a small thing and that is not a joke.'
While Siddaramaiah projected himself as 'the strongest contender for chief minister’s post'. 'We will give a pro-people government, a corruption free government to the people of Karnataka. BJP must know that people were fed up of their corruption. I want to thank Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. Rahul's rallies made a difference in Karnataka. No Modi factor in Karnataka. I am a strong contender, CM decision will be made by congress high command,' he said. State party functionaries Siddaramaiah, is a genuine mass leader in the Old Mysore area, but his weakness lies in the fact that he is a recent party entrant. After differences with his mentor Deve Gowda, in 2006, Siddaramaiah joined the Congress.
Backing him, Petroleum and Natural Gas minister Moily said, 'Siddaramaiah deserves to be considered for chief minister. He has done a good job. I have not indicated that I want to be chief minister, aspiring to be chief minister is not a sin. I never asked for oil ministry. I was given in interest of the nation.' Incidentally Moily is the second choice of the party top bosses for this post.
One of the strongest contenders in the race- union labour and employment minister Mallikarjun Kharge - left the final decision to the Congress high command. Being a Dalit leader from Gulbarga he also has a broad following, including among Lingayats in north Karnataka. 'If the Congress party thinks I am fit for the office then I can be considered. I should not be considered because I am a Dalit. Whatever the high command decides, I'll abide by that. In Congress party everybody is capable and it is up to the high command to decide. After elections Congress will send observers. MLAs will also be taken into consideration. Ultimately the party high command will take the decision on who will be chief minister.'