S. A. Hemanth
Bengaluru, April 9: “Kharge for CM” is the new stategy evolved by KPCC President D. K. Shivakumar even as the elections are about a month away.
A past-master in the art of smart and clever political maneuvering that Shivakumar is and with ability to think ten-steps ahead, the KPCC President has simply check-mated the Kuruba strongman by bringing the name of senior leader Mallikarjuna Kharge as the candidate for the post of Chief Minister.
For, nobody, not even the High Command, can oppose Kharge’s candidature for the post of CM, given his stature and contribution to the party for more than six decades. And being the tallest dalit leader, Kharge towers overs everybody, not only in Congress but in other parties also.
By bringing in “Kharge as CM” strategy, Shivakumar has ensured that Siddaramaiah does not have a free-run if, in case, the race for the coveted post takes place post-May 13. Virtually the Vokkaliga strong-man has kept the Kuruba strongman on tenterhooks.
That this new strategy is the manifestation of the cold war going on between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah for the post of Chief Miniser needs no mention. Instead of fighting against each other that could spell doom on the electoral prospects of the party, Shivakumar has only brought in Kharge as his trump-card to check-mate Siddaramaiah.
But to be fair to both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, both of them say that they will accept the decision of the High Command post May 13. The fact of the matter, however, is that both the contenders are playing games against each other to touch the finish-line first.
Kharge, naturally and correctly, has not said anything on the issue. As AICC President, he has taken a stance that the Chief Minister will be decided after the elections by the High Command in consultation with the legislators in the Congress Legislature Party.
Kharge has missed the bus several times in the past. It remains to be seen if he is lucky this time, as a consensus candidate between two warring local leaders.
EOM.
