Mobilenews24x7 Bureau (Exclusive)
Wonderful to see that at 82, national president of the Congress party Mallikarjuna Kahrge left nothing short of a milestone effort in his home state, being active in both on-ground campaigning as well as strategising. Most importantly, Kharge’s presence was instrumental in making greater inroads among Dalit voters, and in keeping the party united.
Which played a great role in garnering Dalit votes.
Now the dilemma would be for the Congress as who could be rated as number one face for the party.
Despite the fact that, two other tall leaders Siddharamiah and Shivkumar did not leave any efforts with their hardwork.
Given the role played by Kahrge, analysts believe that, it could have been tough for the Congress for such a seamless victory in Karnataka.
Being a Gandhi family’s loyalist Kharge may not have such ambitions for the chief minister ship right now, but at 82 it may have a nudge from within to make a podium finish before age weighs heavy on his.
That may leave the party high command to go through all permutations and combinations before give a final call on who to lead Karnataka.
BJP’s strategic lapses not withstanding, Kharge was pivotal in Congress’ improved performance among the two communities, particularly the SCs. According to the India Today-Axis My India exit poll, the Congress secured 60 percent of the Dalit votes, a gain of 14 percentage points from the last election.
On the other hand, Kharge, one of the tallest Dalit leaders in the Congress, had played a big, big role in opening backchannel talks with the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS), which subsequently came out in vocal support of the party in April. He made it possible by building an anti-BJP narrative which made the Congress to win.
This also came at a time when twelve factions of the DSS reunited after several years to take out a rally against “the BJP-RSS narrative”, thus emboldening the Congress.
Sources in Karnataka would have us believe that, Kharge was within the confidence of the high command in the choice of people for tickets.
About Kharge’s long political innings less said the better as he had been a record holder being 37 years as a MLA spanning over endless miles but regardless of his silence, he has never been given the chance to head the state as a CM.
Kharge has always identified himself as a staunch Congesss loyalist rather than carrying the tag of a tall Dalit leader which kept him above regional concepts in politics.
This time, notwithstanding the ire his selection would create among two other aspirants, Kharge deserves a chance to lead the state.
