The name of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge is being considered to be the opposition I.N.D.I. Prime Minister face. There’s a good chance that a bloc will exert pressure on Congress to increase its number of members in the Lok Sabha next year.
In order to improve their chances of victory, a cautious Congress is now likely to stick with tried-and-true candidates rather than trying out new ones. Ministers and other influential people can be invited to run in the elections to boost turnout and give Kharge a stronger opportunity should INDIA surprise voters.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met with Kharge and other high-command figures in New Delhi and spoke about electoral strategy. Cabinet ministers addressed the matter on Thursday. The party high leadership wants to finalize the names well in advance, therefore district in-charge ministers, who are tasked with choosing three probables from each seat, have been instructed to expedite the process, according to party insiders.
Out of the 28 seats in the state, the Congress now only has one MP, DK Suresh, who represents the Bengaluru Rural district. With the benefit of having the majority, it is aiming for 20 seats.
KN Rajanna, the minister of cooperation, has voluntarily volunteered to run for the Tumakuru seat. The party may invite Social Welfare Minister Dr. HC Mahadevappa from Chamarajanagar, Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre from Bidar, Food and Civil Supplies Minister KH Muniyappa from Kolar, PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi from Belagavi, MLC Saleem Ahmed from Haveri, and Siddaramaiah’s son Dr. Yathindra from Mysuru-Kodagu to run.
While Muniyappa wants his daughter and KGF MLA Rupakala Shashidhar to be given a minister if he challenges in the elections, Mahadevappa has put forth his son Sunil Bose’s name, according to reports.
According to the reports, the party intends to run state Backward Classes Commission Chairman K Jayaprakasha Hegde from Udupi-Chikkamagaluru, H Anjaneya from Chitradurga, and Ramanatha Rai from Dakshina Kannada.
Dinesh Gundurao, the minister of health and family welfare, said, “Even though Kharge’s name has not been formally proposed, it is still a matter of pride for all Kannadigas as he is the tallest leader from the state.”
Given that Kharge would be preoccupied with the party’s nationwide campaign, it will be fascinating to watch whether the current Rajya Sabha member will run from the Kalaburagi seat, which he lost in 2019.
