New Delhi: Congress is sending four AICC observers led by AK Antony to Karnataka on Friday to elicit the views of newly elected MLAs on the issue of chief ministership.
"Senior minister A K Antony, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Madhusudan Mistri, Luizinho Faleiro, who was Karnatataka`s screening committee chairman, and Union Minister Jitender Singh are going as AICC observers to Karnataka tomorrow," party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said.
Congress yesterday made a spectacular come back in the state after seven years in its old southern bastion, decimating the ruling BJP whose fate was sealed by a fractious split and corruption charges. Congress put up an impressive show in the elections bagging 121 seats, eight more than the half-way mark in a House of 224. Polls were held for 223 seats with one countermanded after a BJP candidate died.
The party`s victory immediately triggered a Chief Ministerial race involving OBC leader Siddaramaiah and Dalit leader and Central Minister Mallikarjun Kharge. Other leaders like M Veerappa Moily, a former Chief Minister, also cannot be ruled out, analysts say.
The shock defeat of KPCC chief G Parameshwara virtually eliminated him from the race for chief ministership.
PTI