Karnataka Congress: Mallikarjun Kharge As CM Candidate? D K Shivakumar Has His Say Amid Top Job Tussle With Siddaramaiah

The Karnataka Congress president, D K Shivakumar, has surprised many by declaring that he would be willing to work under the party national president, Mallikarjun Kharge, if he was elected chief minister after the 10 May assembly elections.

Shivakumar said at a press briefing on Saturday (8 April), "Mallikarjun Kharge is my leader. He is my president. Kharge is 20 years my senior. We have to respect his seniority and sacrifices. In the event of him becoming CM of Karnataka, I am ready to work with him."

"Kharge is an asset to the nation and the state. I will abide by any decision that the party takes. He resigned at midnight as the opposition leader. From a block leader, he has become the national president of the Congress. This can happen only in the Congress. I will work with happiness if he is made the CM," he added.

Shivakumar is engaged in a leadership tussle with the Leader of Opposition, Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to the Indian Express on Friday (7 April), Siddaramaiah had said, "If anybody wants to become CM, there is nothing wrong with it. Ultimately, newly elected MLAs will choose a leader of the legislature party, after which the high command will take a decision. This is a democratic system."

It is highly unlikely that Kharge will become the Chief Minister of Karnataka, due to his role as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) chief.

He was previously considered for the position twice, but missed out both times.

In 2008, the Congress did not succeed in the elections, and in 2013, Siddaramaiah was chosen as the Other Backward Classes (OBC) face for the position.

This time, Kharge has a slim chance, as discussions within the party suggest that they may appoint a Dalit chief minister in Karnataka as a statement ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

After the election date announcement, Kharge declared that the Congress party would not name a chief ministerial candidate. He added that deciding the chief minister candidate beforehand often resulted in infighting.