D K Shivakumar Hints At Chief Ministerial Post After Congress' Thumping Victory In Karnataka Assembly Elections

He dismissed rumors of differences with former chief minister Siddaramaiah, stating that the party and the Legislature Party would decide on the next chief minister.

Outlook Web Desk

Updated on: 14 May 2023 12:39 pm

Karnataka Congress state chief and six-time MLA D K Shivakumar (DKS)

Following the Congress party's landslide victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections, state unit president D K Shivakumar hinted that he is in the race for the chief minister's post. Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar stated that he never sought anything for himself and always worked for the party.

He further dismissed rumors about differences between him and former chief minister Siddaramaiah, saying that the Congress and the Legislature Party would decide on the next chief minister. Shivakumar also recounted how, while he was in jail in a money laundering case, Congress national president Sonia Gandhi visited him to show her support.

Shivakumar, who won the Assembly election on Saturday from Kanakapura, said he had toiled day and night while taking everyone along. He added that there were no differences between him and Siddaramaiah and that he had kept himself grounded and walked his path. The Congress won the Karnataka Assembly elections with a thumping majority by winning 135 out of 224 seats, while the ruling BJP could garner only 66 seats.

According to Hindustan Times, the Congress party's victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections has been hailed as the party's best performance in the state since 1999. This win is seen as a significant boost for the Congress ahead of assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh later this year. In the 2018 elections, the Congress had won 80 seats and garnered a vote share of 38 per cent.

The Congress swept the Old Mysuru, Mumbai Karnataka, Hyderabad Karnataka, and Central Karnataka regions, while the BJP managed to retain its hold only in Coastal Karnataka.

(With PTI Inputs)