Congress is sending four AICC observers led by Defence Minister A.K. Antony to Karnataka tomorrow 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 told PTI.

The party’s victory in Karnataka immediately triggered a race for the Chief Minister’s post involving OBC leader Siddaramaiah and Dalit leader and Central Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

Other leaders such as 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.

IANS adds from Bangalore: Pitching himself as the next Chief Minister, Congress leader Siddaramaiah said on Thursday that all 120 of the party’s newly elected legislators were with him.

“The observers will brief the party high command (on legislators’ choice) which will take the decision,” Siddaramaiah, who was Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing Assembly, told reporters at his residence here. “All 120 MLAs are with me,” he said. “I am a strong contender.” Siddaramaiah had said on Wednesday even as vote count was on and trends showed that the Congress was heading for a clear majority.

Another top State Congress leader who has shown keenness to lead the government is the Central Labour and Employment Minister Mallikharjun Kharge.

He said on Wednesday that if the high command thinks he was fit for the post, it was for it to take the decision. However, he added that he did not want to be considered on the ground that he is a Dalit.

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