From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Mysuru, Jul 19: Even as former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has no secret of his ambition of donning the mantle again, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar declared that he was a claimant for the coveted post and at the same time asserted that Congress party’s victory in the assembly polls was more important than his becoming the Chief Minister.

``After former Chief Minister and present BJP leader S M Krishna, I happen to be the State Congress president and have already appealed to the dominant Vokkaliga community to stand behind him in support,’’ he said participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Mysuru District Journalists Association on Tuesday.

Answering questions, he said: ``I am not a Sanyasi. I have come wearing Khadi cloth and not saffron robes like the Swamijis. However, the final decision on who should become the Chief Minister will be decided by the party. My primary objective is to ensure that the Congress party comes to power in the State.’’Shivakumar said the party high command will decide on who should become the Chief Minister.

He said he was confident that not just his Vokkaliga community but all sections of society, irrespective of the caste and religious affiliations will stand behind the party. ``We believe in secularism and not confined to any one community or religion. I want to be treated as a Congress party leader,’’ he said.

The KPCC Chief said Congress party will face the elections unitedly. There are no factions led by me or Congress opposition leader in the assembly Siddaramaiah and there is no conflict among us.

Shivakumar sought to dismiss charges that he was not happy with the 75 th birthday celebrations of Siddaramaiah being held at Davangere and said Siddaramaiah’s contributions during the last 75 years cannot be ignored. ``He has been in politics for 40 years and has done a lot for the State and people. Is there anything wrong on speaking about his contributions,’’ he asked and said the birthday celebrations cannot be dubbed as individual glorification.

``I am participating in the birthday celebrations along with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi,’’ he said. To a question on Congress leader in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge’s decision of not having a public celebration on his birthday, Shivakumar said different individuals feel differently and pointed out that he too did not have public function on his birthday and went to Kedarnath with family.

Asked if a Dalit will become a Chief Minister if the Congress party secures a clear majority, Shivakumar replied: ``Why not? If Veerappa Moily, S Bangarappa, Siddaramaiah, Devaraj Urs and R Gundu Rao belonging to different communities could become Chief Ministers, why not a Dalit get the honour.’’ In response to a question on the prospects of the Congress party in the assembly polls, he said the internal surveys conducted by the party have predicted 130 seats. ``We are confident of doing better,’’ he said pointing out that the people are fed up with the BJP and its corruption.