Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with former Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC DK Shivakumar. (PTI Photo/Shailendra Bhojak)
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After a period of suspense, the Congress top leadership is likely to decide on the Karnataka chief ministerial candidate on Tuesday, May 16. Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and state party president DK Shivakumar are in a neck-and-neck contest, with both lobbying intensely for the top post.
While Siddaramaiah’s arrival in Delhi on Monday might indicate that he already has one proverbial foot in the door to the CM’s office, Shivakumar’s delivery of the electoral win in Karnataka might turn the verdict in his favour.
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Here’s a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the two frontrunners.
Siddaramaiah
STRENGTHS
According to party sources, 90 of the 135 new Congress MLAs in Karnataka expressed support for Siddaramaiah to the party’s central observers
Greater experience and stature in the state’s politics
Wider support from base amongst the Muslim and Kuruba communities
WEAKNESSES
His failure to bring the Congress back in the 2018 Assembly elections may be counted against him
THREAT
Spurning Siddaramaiah would be a risky decision – the Kuruba and Muslim communities are spread all over Karnataka, and many party MLAs are reliant on Siddaramaiah’s popularity for their seats
OPPORTUNITY
Appointing Siddaramaiah as CM may spell greater favour for the Congress from not only a majority of its own MLAs, but also minority communities
DK Shivakumar
STRENGTHS
Spearheaded Karnataka’s thumping victory against the BJP in the crucial Assembly elections
Strongly endorsed by the leaders of the politically influential Lingayat and Vokkaliga communities
Successfully steered the party through a difficult time during his state presidentship
May enjoy the favour of Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi– he had once worked closely with the former’s right-hand man Ahmed Patel.
WEAKNESSES
Does not have the numbers on his side
The corruption cases against him, including a CBI case over disproportionate assets, might deter the central leadership
THREAT
Upsetting Shivakumar, who believes he has earned the post after the electoral triumph, might not bode well for the Congress
OPPORTUNITY
With Shivakumar at the helm, the Congress won 28 more seats in Lingayat belts compared to 2018. His ascension to the CM post may bolster this critical vote bank
