Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 26: Two Congress leaders, D K Shivakumar and M B Patil, are on a head-to-head race to become Karnataka's next Congress president.
After Dinesh Gundu Rao submitted his resignation as KPCC chief, taking moral responsibility for the party's poor performance in recent by-elections, the two leaders are vying for the post.
However, the competition between them has become a contest between the communities they belong to.
D K Shivakumar belongs to the Vokkaliga community while M B Patil hails from the Lingayat community. The two upper castes, Lingayats and Vokkaligas have played a key role in Karnataka state politics. While Lingayats constitute 17% of the state’s 65 million population, Vokkaligas account for 15%.
It is said that former chief minister Siddaramaiah favours Lingayat leader M B Patil for the post. According to a source, Siddaramaiah, who was widely blamed for the collapse of the JD(S)-led coalition government in the state, wants to retain the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) post despite his resignation, as it would enable him to become the leader of the opposition.
Meanwhile, Shivakumar is a Vokkaliga from south Karnataka and a seven-time legislator. Shivakumar was arrested by the ED on September 3 last year in a money laundering case based on a complaint by the tax department alleging tax evasion.
However, Congress president Sonia Gandhi had visited him in Tihar jail and showed that the party stands by him. Former chief minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, also a Vokkaliga leader who is close to Shivakumar had visited him in jail. The Congress had alleged both Shivakumar and former finance minister P Chidambaram were targeted by central agencies because of political vendetta. Shivakumar was released on October 23 after bail in the case.
Both the leaders are Congress’s strongmen. Also, as both the castes are equally dominant only time will tell who will take over as the president of KPCC.
Speaking on the subject, M B Patil said, "As MLAs from south Karnataka are in the opposition, KPCC president post should go to north Karnataka. I have not done any lobbying for the KPCC top post. I have just brought to the notice of the high command as to what needs to be done to bring the party to power in the state.
"Siddaramiah has recommended my name to the high command after calculating many political equations. I have the capability to handle the position if given the presidentship. I am not an aspirant for the position of leader of opposition. According to me and many leaders, Siddaramaiah is the right person for that post."
Meanwhile, D K Shivakumar is in Delhi lobbying for the coveted post. He met state in-charge Venugopal on Saturday, and the move has created curiosity among state political circles.
It is also learnt that the Congress high command is hesitating to offer the post to DKS as it fears that he might be arrested once again by ED. It is learnt that D K Shivakumar has sent all the documents of his case to the high command and clarified that there is no possibility of him getting arrested again.
D K Shivakumar took part in the Republic Day parade at Rajpath in New Delhi on Sunday.