OK if Congree picks Dalit CM

Siddaramaiah says this will be his last election

Mysuru: A day after Karnataka voted in the Assembly elections after witnessing a high-octane campaign between the BJP and Congress, incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he has no problem if the high command decides to choose a Dalit leader for the state's top post.

But, he made it clear, no one could forcibly take the decision – and he was quick to add that he was popular among MLAs, whose opinion will have weight in the final decision.

Taking to Twitter, Siddaramaiah also recalled how he had taken charge as Karnataka CM on this date five years ago and said he looked forward to the people's love and support "for doing more".

Siddaramaiah, who contested from Chamundeshwari and Badami constituencies for the Assembly elections, said he will not be fighting polls henceforth. “This will be my last election.”

"If the party high command says they will make a Dalit the CM, I will tell them go ahead. I am not against anybody. But you see, MLAs also have to give an opinion... No one can force.... High command also has to agree to that. Forcefully making someone a CM is difficult. You can't run a government like that," said Siddaramaiah.

While asserting that the Congress would retain power in the southern state, the CM expressed confidence that the party would win an absolute majority. He also ruled out any possibility of an alliance with Janata Dal (S), led by former prime minister H D Deve Gowda.

He also dismissed exit polls results which indicated maximum seats for the BJP in the polls. “Opinion polls are entertainment for the next 2 days. Relying on poll of polls is like a person who can’t swim crossing a river on foot relying on a statistician who told him the average depth of the river is 4 feet. Please note average of 6+4+2 is 4. At 6 feet you drown (sic),” he tweeted.