Two days after the results, the Congress party is still yet to decide on its chief minister candidate. At the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting it was decided to pass a resolution handing over the decision to the party’s high command. They said they would get an answer within a few hours but it did not come.
The observers – Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shiva Kumar, party state incharge Manikrao Thakre and others held hectic discussions with the newly elected MLAs and telephoned the party president Mallikarjun Kharge at New Delhi. But it was not solved.
It is learnt that seniors Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy, D Sridhar Babu, and Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka reportedly said they cannot work under Revanth Reddy. They also put forward their demands.
For instance, it was learnt that Vikramarka has agreed to accept the deputy chief minister post but he wants to be the only deputy chief minister and demanded the Home Ministry. Mr Sridhar Babu reportedly refused to accept the Speaker post and in fact wanted a plump post. Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy demanded that his wife and Kodad MLA Padmavathi be made a minister.
The party observers bogged down with these demands while Revanth Reddy’s followers counted the number of MLAs on his side and found 46 supporting him for the post of chief minister.
The party leaders within the Congress allege that the seniors are conspiring against Mr Revanth Reddy and blocking his chances of becoming chief minister.
The party leaders indicated that there would be a swearing-in ceremony last evening. But it was cancelled. The next date is yet to be fixed. A lot of confusion and chaos prevailing in the Congress party for now.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao