CM Siddu backs Rahul for PM even as INDIA partners suggest Kharge

Maqsood Maniyar | NT

Bengaluru: Even as prominent faces of the Opposition INDIA alliance, Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, both chief ministers, batted for Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge as the PM face of the opposition for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah made it clear that he preferred Rahul Gandhi for the post.

Siddaramaiah’s remark that Rahul should become the PM face of the Opposition, has come as a surprise to many in the party and its allies.

He made the comments at the Congress 139th foundation day programme in Bengaluru on Thursday.

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal had batted for Kharge as the PM candidate of the alliance but Kharge had responded that winning the Lok Sabha polls was the priority and that everything else would come up later.

“Congress alone is capable of solving the problems of the country. For this, Rahul Gandhi should become the prime minister,” Siddaramaiah said.

“Let us try to bring change in this country. Let us try to bring Congress to power. Let us try to make Rahul Gandhi the prime minister,” he added.

It is to be noted that although Siddaramaiah and Kharge are on good terms now, they have been rivals in the past.

The Congress high command chose Siddaramaiah for his maiden CM term back in 2013 after he reportedly beat Kharge in mustering support in the Congress legislature party.

State Congress dilemma

When the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) coalition partners had pitched for Kharge as the PM face, much of Karnataka Congress had been in a fix because the party hasn’t issued them instructions on how to respond to questions regarding whom to project as the potential head of government.

Many state Congress leaders feel they have invested heavily in Rahul’s leadership, even projecting him as the next PM at times.

Also noteworthy is the fact that a number of them, including Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, are staunch Gandhi family loyalists.

However, some party leaders from Kharge's native Kalyana Karnataka region have responded positively.

Meanwhile, the Congress national president’s son Priyank, echoed his father’s opinion that winning was the priority but added that it would be good if Kharge senior emerged as the PM candidate of the Opposition.