Shivakumar plays Kharge card, ignites dalit CM debate

Amid stiff competition between him and senior leader Siddaramiah for the Chief ministerial post in the event of Congress winning the assembly polls, Karnataka Congress unit president D K Shivakumar’s attempts to bring AICC chief M Mallikarjun Kharge’s name into the race have raised eyebrows within party circles.
The KPCC chief’s move to endorse Kharge is being seen by some as an attempt by him to checkmate Siddaramaiah’s prospects by reigniting the debate on ‘Dalit CM’ and ‘old versus new’ within the party. Shivakumar’s statements that he would “love” to work under Kharge if he becomes the Chief Minister and that there are voices within the party saying that “injustice” has happened to the veteran leader in the past have got tongues wagging among many in the state Congress. However, he has maintained that the party’s decision is final.
“He (Kharge) is our senior leader and AICC President. He has not asked for it (CM post), and Congress should come to power is his only desire. He is a senior leader, and there are some voices that say that injustice has happened to him in the past,” Shivakumar said in response to a question regarding bringing Kharge’s name to the fore.