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Journalism of Courage
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday indicated that the new government in Karnataka will get a shared tenure under the two top contenders for the chief minister’s post: former CM Siddaramaiah as well as state Congress chief D K Shivakumar
“People have decided that they have had enough of turning to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will look at the people of Karnataka. We will form the government under the leadership of Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar. We have a lot of responsibility now. It is on them as well,” Kharge said at a media briefing following the party’s resounding victory in the Assembly polls.
Calling it a “victory for everyone”, Kharge said: “No one can say they did it on their own. If they were not present, then someone else would have taken their place — that is normal in a party and (in a) democracy. When leaders work well, we get good results like this. I congratulate both of them and their office-bearers.”
Both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah called it a victory for the people of Karnataka. Shivakumar said, “This is not a victory for me or for Siddaramaiah, or that of Congress leaders on the stage. The eclipse that covered Karnataka for the last three years has gone — tears are wiped away, laughter has returned.”
Siddaramaiah called the victory the result of a “decision by people of Karnataka for a decisive verdict”, as “whenever there has been a hung verdict, there have not been stable governments”.
In coalitions, he added, “there cannot be a stable government if there is more than one CM”.
Calling it a victory against corruption, price-rise, “the 40-percent government, troubles caused to farmers, the tears of housewives,” and against unemployment, Shivakumar said, “When we assume office we will take decisions on the first day on the guarantees [made in Congress manifesto].”
He also said, “I promised [former Congress chief] Sonia Gandhi that I would hand over power in Karnataka to her through the best of my efforts. I have completed that task today. We will work together with patience and unity. We have called a meeting of the legislators of the party tomorrow (Sunday), and we will go as per our tradition and decision of our seniors.”
Calling for an end to speculation, Shivakumar said, “There should be no worship of individuals, but of the party.”
Siddaramaiah said the Congress was able to provide good administration when the party was given a decisive mandate in 2013. “The people of the state wanted to give the majority to a single party (again) — they wanted change, and they have given the Congress another chance at governance. We must not misuse the opportunity and must live up to the people’s expectations.”
Congress general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala said, “Today is a historic occasion. Karnataka has created history. It has shown a new light for democracy not only for people of the state but for the entire country.”
He said, “We stand committed to fulfilling the five guarantees, as Rahul Gandhi said today. We stand committed to a transparent and accountable government to every Kannadiga. We assure that the next Congress government will serve each and every Kannadiga.”
