Karnataka results: Day before, Cong buzzes with CM talk, Siddaramaiah may have the edge

Siddaramaiah held meetings separately with Congress leaders at his residence on Friday.

Shivakumar, meanwhile, made no effort to hide his ambition to be the CM – again — while adding the rider that he would abide by “the decision of the high command”. Speaking to reporters Friday, he said: “I have struggled for the party and all will support (me). I got the responsibility (of the KPCC chief) after Dinesh Gundu Rao quit following the bypoll losses (2019). I never slept after that and will not sleep. I have done what is necessary for the party… all will support (me) and I will provide a good government.”

Shivakumar, who is banking on the Congress performing well in the Vokkaliga belt of South Karnataka with 64 seats – Shivakumar is a Vokkaliga – has predicted that the party will win over 141 seats. This is more than the maximum projection for the Congress in exit polls declared Wednesday – 140 of 224 seats.

Apart from meetings at his residence, Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba OBC leader, reportedly spoke to Congress MLA contestants from the Mysuru region (falling in South Karnataka) and is said to have been particularly unhappy over the “weak fight” put up by the Congress in Chamundeshwari seat against the JD(S)’s G T Devegowda, in the final run.

Sources said that as of now, Siddaramaiah seems ahead in the numbers game compared to Shivakumar or any other leader, including Congress national president Kharge (whose name as CM has also been floated by some).

In the run-up to the polls, Siddaramaiah repeatedly said that the CM name would be decided by the elected MLAs and the high command.

Soon after the election dates had been announced, Kharge had said the same regarding the choice of CM if the Congress won. “After the polls, the opinion of the MLAs who are elected will be obtained and the high command will decide on the basis of political strategy as to who should become (the CM),” he said in March. “We have decided that the opinion of the elected MLAs and the high command will be sought,” he said.

Former Karnataka Deputy CM and Congress leader G Parameshwara, a Dalit, is seen as having an outside chance of becoming CM, especially in the event of a hung House and the Congress allying with the JD(S).

Parameshwara, who was among those who met Kharge Friday, said: “I will not comment on the post of CM as the high command will decide. If we keep commenting on the CM seat, it would be a problem.”

The Congress is also preparing for the eventuality of a hung Assembly, and Shivakumar has reportedly been directed to ensure that district party leaders get all Congress MLAs together in Bengaluru in such a scenario.

The JD(S), which will come into play in the event of a hung House, is expected to drive a hard bargain, with whichever side it ties hands with. Although it is considered ideologically closer to the Congress, it is seen as “practical” in actual politics, meaning the BJP remains an option.

However, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy — who left for Singapore on Thursday, ostensibly for medical care – may first have to overcome the possibility of his MLAs leaving for other parties in the event of a hung house.

The BJP has been muted in its response since the exit polls. Several party leaders, including current CM Basavaraj Bommai, Friday gathered at the home of former CM B S Yediyurappa.

Bommai, who is facing a fight in his own Shiggaon constituency, insisted the BJP will win. “The Congress will not get a majority so they are trying to get in touch with other parties and have no confidence in their legislators. We are confident that we will win and cross the magic number. We have got the ground report from all the booths and constituencies,” he said.

Bommai added that the BJP high command had been apprised of the situation in the state. “At present, there is no question of any alliance as we are sure to get an absolute majority,” he said.

Apart from reaching out to other parties, the Congress and BJP also have their eyes on candidates who contested as Independents or from smaller parties, have a chance to win and could be needed to get past the magic figure of 113 MLAs. They include the candidates of the Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha of former BJP minister G Janardhan Reddy, which is seen as having some prospects in two seats.

Several BJP rebels who contested separately after being denied tickets by the party are also expected to fare well, including Latha Mallikarjun, Arun Puthila and Madal Mallikarjuna.