The scheduled 6:30 pm start of the CLP meeting was brought forward by almost an hour as DKS, the head of the CPC, apparently kept everyone waiting until a call from Kharge brought him to the headquarters at 7:13 pm .
Until the tension got to everyone, the newly elected MLAs who traveled to the meeting had hoped that, given the cohesive look of Congress in battle and victory – lots of public maneuvering, photoshoots and joint interviews – the election of a new CLP leader would have been just as easy. This turned out not to be the case.
With neither former CM Siddaramaiah nor DKS showing any sign of backing down, heightened by slogans and boardroom drama, Kharge and the Gandhis now have to play hardball to get either side to step down or accept a split mandate as CM in the interest of the part.
The MLA opinion-seeking process will conclude on Monday evening in Bangalore, sources said. Both Siddaramaiah and DKS extension he 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 18th.
08:43
I have no difference with Siddaramaiah: DK Shivakumar
That the two camps were ready to fight was visible early Sunday, with Siddaramaiah and DKS looking for support wherever they could find it. Hours after Kurubara Sangha officers met to ask for the CM post for Siddaramaiah, seen as a champion of the OBC community, Sri Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, an influential Vokkaliga seminary, backed Shivakumar for best work.
DKS toured temples and bastards and held strategy sessions with supporters at his home. After visiting Nonavinakere Mutt in Tumakuru, he said, “I have endured torture, including a prison sentence, for the sake of the party. I was patient when Siddaramaiah was given the opportunity to be CM [in 2013]. Now is the time for justice to prevail.”
Siddaramaiah hasn’t said much publicly, leaving it up to his supporters to champion his cause.
“Ensuring a stable government is the most important thing,” said former minister Basavaraj Rayareddy, who won the Yelaburga seat. “It is better to have a full term prime minister. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are equally eligible. While Shivakumar has worked hard to build the party, Siddaramaiah is popular with the people. If you ask me, Siddaramaiah should be CM for a full term. mandate term, but that rests with the high command”.
Supporters of Siddaramaiah, who at 75 is looking at perhaps his last chance to become prime minister, said about 70% of the 136 MLAs in Congress were backing him. Shivakumar’s supporters insisted that he had equal support.
“Shivakumar is eligible to be CM by any criteria,” said Nirmalanandanatha Swami. “He Worked hard to build the party and should be rewarded. Normally, the state president takes the reins if the party wins an election. I hope Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi do justice to Shivakumar.”
The DKS camp said lawmakers from both major communities, Vokkaliga and Lingayat, were rooting for him. Congress has 37 Lingayat and 29 Vokkaliga MLA. About 80 percent of the 35 first-time MLAs are with Shivakumar since he was the one who gave them a chance to contest the polls, an aide said.
“It’s not about a first term or a second term; Shivakumar should have the opportunity to lead the government for the full term,” said HD Ranganath, the Kunigal MLA.
The action now moves to Delhi.
Clock Bangalore: Former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar and other Congress leaders arrive for CLP meeting
