Bangalore: I am a strong aspirant for CM post - Siddaramaiah
Daijiworld Media Network – Bangalore (SP)
Bangalore, May 9: In a statement from Bangalore, former deputy Chief Minister and leader of the opposition in the assembly, Siddaramaiah, concurred that he is a strong aspirant for the post of the Chief Minister of the state. A number of his loyal supporters are rallying behind him, and all of them believe that their leader will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka within a few days.
Making a statement in the presence of the media, Gauribidanur MLA, Shivashankar Reddy, stressed that Siddaramaiah has all the traits which a CM needs have. Besides being an efficient administrator and seasoned politician, Siddaramaiah hails from backward class, he pointed out.
Siddaramaiah said that he hopes to draw support from all the 120 MLAs of his party. He added that after the central observers collect opinions from the legislators, a meeting of the legislative party will be convened to elect a leader.
"The observers will brief the party high command (on legislators' choice) which will take the decision," Siddaramaiah, who was leader of the opposition in the outgoing assembly, told reporters at his residence here.
On the support he has among the legislators to become the chief minister, he said: "All 120 MLAs (members of the legislative assembly) are with me."
He did not give details of who would be coming as observers and when the decision on chief minister was likely to be announced.
It is learnt that a team of central observers will reach the city today evening or tomorrow, for holding individual consultations with the newly elected MLAs and decide on a suitable candidate for the post of the Chief Minister. A decision, which will be final, will then be taken by the party high command.
Union minister for labour and employment, Mallikarjun Kharge, has already expressed his readiness to carry the mantle of the state. At the same time, he has said that he does not want the post merely on the basis of his status as a dalit leader.
It is said that about a dozen Congress leaders, including D K Shivakumar, Margaret Alva and Oscar Fernandes, are also eager to become the Chief Minister of Karnataka. The picture will hopefully become clearer within a couple of days.