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@Evening: 🙋 Beyond Siddaramaiah Vs Shivakumar, New Claims For Karnataka CM Job From Lingayat, Dalit Communities
Karnataka Congress leaders Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar are vying for the top political job in Karnataka. But they're not the only ones.
Context: Various caste groups are now making claims for the CM post.
The Lingayat community's All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha has entered the race for the top job, pointing out that 34 of the Congress' newly elected MLAs belong to the community.
Dalit community supporters also demanded the appointment of G Parameshwara as the chief minister.
Lingayats assert influence. Previously supporting the BJP, the Lingayats' vote shift was a factor in the Congress victory.
The All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha told Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a letter that out of the 46 community candidates fielded, 34 emerged victorious.
The Mahasabha includes prominent Lingayat leaders, led by 91-year-old Shamanuru Shivashankarappa — the oldest MLA, representing Karnataka's Davangere South constituency.
The letter added that the community also played a major role in electing other smaller communities in other 50 constituencies.
With 17 per cent of Karnataka's population, the Lingayat community potentially impacts results in almost 100 seats.
>> "Considering the above facts, we now urge the Congress party to give a chance/consider (a) Veerashaiva Lingayat community leader for the post of Chief Minister of Karnataka state," the letter said.
CM from Dalit community? Protestors waved placards saying "a Dalit should be CM" during a demonstration in Tumakuru.
The demonstration was held by supporters of veteran Congress leader G Parameshwara.
The Dalit leader has been proposed for the CM's post by his supporters.
Congress campaign approach. The party avoided projecting a single leader as the face of its campaign.
They did that to take on the BJP's formidable election machinery.
But it has led to the current dilemma over the choice of a CM.
Bottom line: For now, only the two top Karnataka Congress leaders are in the race.
Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah appear to have been in and out of key meetings today in Delhi.
There is no mention of a third name... as yet.
