Karnataka: Who will be the Chief Minister?

After a huge victory in the Karnataka elections, the focus now shifts to the candidate who is likely to take on theA mantle ofA the chief ministership. Congress leader of opposition in the outgoing Assembly Siddaramaiah on Wednesday declared himself as a "strong contender" for the chief minister's post, as his party dethroned the BJP and is set to form the government. However Siddaramaiah has been challenged by his own partymen who are aspirants to that throne. KPCC chief G. Parameshwara and Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge are also strong contenders along with union petroleum minister Veerappa Moily.

Siddaramaiah, a backward class leader, said the decision on chief ministership was, however, left to the Congress high command and the legislature party. Happy over the outcome of the elections, Siddaramaiah said the people had voted for the Congress as they wanted a "stable and clean" government and were not in favour of a coalition. Siddaramaiah also said the defeat was a "big lesson" to the BJP which was "involved in corruption, mis-governance and non-performance." Asked whether Rahul factor had also played a role in the Congress' victory, he said there was "no Modi magic." He also credited the victory to the "good governance" provided by the UPA led by Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Kharge open to being CM Union Labour Minister and senior leader from Karnataka Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday indicated that he was ready to be considered for the Chief Minister's post following the electoral victory in the state. "I don't want the post because of my caste (Dalit). I am not interested because of long-standing service to the party. If they think that I am fit for the post, then it is upto them to take a decision. I will abide by any decision the high command takes," he said answering questions whether he is in the race for Chief Minister's post. Mr. Kharge, however, added that he was a senior in the party, but whatever decision the Congress President and the leadership takes will be acceptable to him.