Bengaluru: The Congress celebration held a secret poll amongst its newly elected MLAs to resolve the subsequent chief minister of Karnataka, as heavyweights D.Ok. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah stay steadfast of their declare to the highest chair.
Voting and accumulating opinions from newly elected MLAs began put up 10 pm on Sunday night time because the celebration leaders gathered for the primary time after the resounding victory within the Might 10 meeting election. It went on until about 2.30 am, individuals conscious of the developments stated.
“They’ve collected all of the opinions and can now place it earlier than the Congress president after which resolve learn how to go about it,” an MLA informed ThePrint.
“There have been one-to-one conferences held and their opinions have been forged within the type of a secret poll and sealed which will likely be taken to Delhi by the nationwide observers and opened earlier than the excessive command,” one other MLA stated.
The assembly started with one decision thanking all supporters and the celebration excessive command whereas one other was to authorise Congress nationwide president Mallikarjuna Kharge to nominate a brand new legislature celebration chief.
The key poll, a Congress insider stated, was to guard the MLAs from falling out with the facet they oppose because the race heats up between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah.
One other chief stated that the method ought to not less than “seem democratic” and that there must be no criticism that opinions have been ignored.
Exterior Shangri-la lodge in Bengaluru, supporters of the 2 leaders assembled for a present of power. The supporters of Shivakumar, seemingly extra organised with flags and footage of their chief, chanted ‘DK, DK’.
From the Siddaramaiah camp, the supporters held out a monochrome photocopy of the previous chief minister. A number of fast runs have been made to carry higher high quality footage and to muster the numbers to face as much as the visibly rival group
Whereas the supporters sweated out on the roads, the foyer contained in the lodge was filled with small-time leaders and staff. Some MLAs needed to put on identification playing cards to be recognized as legislators as practically 35 new faces have been elected this time.
At round midnight, the Congress management gathered round Shivakumar who minimize not less than two completely different desserts surrounded by his celebration males, as he turned 61.
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‘Seer stress’
Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga, is basically credited with revitalising its cadre within the not too long ago concluded elections, whereas Siddaramaiah, a Kuruba, is a mass chief with open assist of a number of MLAs.
Seers, representing numerous communities, have additionally joined within the dialogue with Nirmalanandanatha Swami, the top pontiff of the Sri Adichunchanagiri Mutt, Sunday saying that he’ll enchantment that Shivakumar be made the chief minister.
However Lingayats, a bunch that’s largely believed to have shifted a portion of their votes to the Congress, at the moment are demanding their share of the pie.
“Even our swami jis may even say it,” stated 92-year-old Shamanur Shivashankarappa. “There may be M.B. Patil, Eshwar Khandre, myself, (S.S.) Mallikarjun…..,” the veteran Congressman added. On a query if he’s additionally within the race, with out hesitation, the Davangere South MLA stated; “sure sure, why not?”
Rambapuri Swamy, an influential Lingyat seer, on Monday stated that Patil must be made deputy CM.
Shivashankarappa’s son S.S. Mallikarjun stated that out of the 51 tickets given to Lingayats, 39 have been elected and an inner assembly will likely be held to resolve how they need to proceed ahead.
There have been calls for from minority teams as nicely with Shafi Sadi, the chairman of the state waqf board, saying {that a} Muslim must be made the deputy chief minister.
“We received 15, and 9 Muslim candidates have received. In about 72 constituencies, the Congress received purely due to the Muslims. We, as a group, have given so much to the Congress. Now it’s time we get one thing in return,” he added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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