In a resolute bid for the position of Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress President, made a compelling case, asserting that he represents a single-man majority. He refrained from divulging specific numbers regarding his support base, emphasizing that he did not want to comment on the extent of his backing. Despite the setback of the coalition government's collapse and the departure of numerous MLAs, DK Shivakumar remained undeterred. While citing a stomach infection as the reason for his absence during a visit to New Delhi, he conveyed his unwavering determination.
#WATCH | "I'm a single man, I believe in one thing that a single man with courage becomes a majority...When all our MLAs left the party (2019 JD(S)-Cong coalition govt), I didn't lose my heart,"says K'taka Cong pres DK Shivakumar before he heads to Delhi for Karnataka CM talks. pic.twitter.com/83CMHHLmTQ
— ANI (@ANI) May 15, 2023
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah has already arrived in the capital, where the party High Command will ultimately decide between DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah for the coveted position. In a significant development, the MLAs resolved to delegate the responsibility of naming the Chief Minister to Mallikarjun Kharge. With the Congress party securing a resounding victory in Karnataka, the focus now lies on the race for the Chief Minister's post, with both Siddaramaiah, a seasoned Congress leader and former Chief Minister, and DK Shivakumar, a charismatic figure with widespread popularity, making rightful claims to the top position. This has projected an image of unity between the two leaders.
Responding to Siddaramaiah's assertion of having greater MLA support, DK Shivakumar declared, "One man with courage makes a majority." Significantly, under his leadership, the Congress party boasts a support base of 135 MLAs, who have unanimously entrusted the decision to the party High Command. DK Shivakumar refrained from providing a personal tally of MLAs backing him for the Chief Minister's role, emphasizing that the numbers he possesses belong to the Congress party as a whole. He assured Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge that his primary objective was to secure Karnataka for the Congress party—an objective that he successfully accomplished.