Congress Hits Back At BJP For Questioning Delay In Deciding Karnataka Chief Minister

Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar with the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. Credit PTI

On Wednesday, the Congress hit out at the BJP for condemning it for the delay in naming Karnataka’s chief minister, citing instances when the BJP declared its chief ministers in Uttar Pradesh and Assam several days after winning the elections.

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “To refresh the memory of those who beat the drums, especially the Prime Minister. The results of the UP Assembly Elections, 2017 came on 11 March. Yogi was made the Chief Minister after 8 days on March 19. The results of the Assam Assembly Elections, 2021 came on 3 May. Himanta Biswa Sarma became the Chief Minister after 7 days on 10 May. There are many more such examples”, through his official Twitter handle.

Several BJP leaders are attacking the Congress for the delay in naming a chief ministerial candidate in Karnataka despite intense lobbying for the position.

Karnataka’s two chief ministerial contenders, Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar met separately with the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday, as the party undertook frantic deliberations to choose who will lead the government in the southern state.

According to Amit Malviya, the BJP’s IT cell head, a deplorable state of affairs prevails in Congress where President Mallikarjun Kharge sees himself more as a postman.

Amit Malviya tweeted, “Want to watch circus? Watch the Congress select their CM in Karnataka. The BJP also holds discussions and deliberations to elect its CMs and has often ensured a smooth transition of power, even between CMs. Despite elaborate consultations, you will never find BJP aspirants falling over each other, rallying supporters, and issuing veiled threats to the Party through the media. On the contrary, last evening, Lutyens journalists, who DK Shivkumar hosted at the Claridges, almost appointed Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka CM. Sorry state of affairs in Congress, where President Kharge sees himself more as a postman, let alone being a decision-maker or even part of the decision-making team… He keeps referring to some High Command”, through his official Twitter handle.

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Spriha Rai