Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar: Know strengths, weaknesses, opportunities of the two aspiring Karnataka CMs
4 min read 15 May 2023, 02:10 PM ISTThe race for the top post has heated up between old warhorses Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, with both leaders making no secret of their ambition to lead the southern state.
PremiumCongress President Mallikarjun Kharge will likely decide the name of the next chief minister of Karnataka today i.e. on 15 May. The party has been facing the dilemma of choosing between two party stalwarts DK Shivkumar and Siddaramaiah after an emphatic 135-seat win in the May 10 Karnataka Assembly polls.
The race for the top post has heated up between old warhorses Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, with both leaders making no secret of their ambition to lead the southern state.
Also Read: Karnataka CM decision LIVE
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has unanimously authorised All India Congress Committee (AICC) President M Mallikarjun Kharge to pick its leader, who will be the next chief minister of the state.
Earlier on Sunday, Shivakumar clarified that he has no differences with senior party leader Siddaramaiah. “Some people say that I have differences with Siddaramaiah but I want to clear that there is no difference between us. Many times I have sacrificed for the party and stood with Siddaramaiah ji. I have given cooperation to Siddaramaiah," he had said. The sources inside the Congress are also claiming that the party can decide on a middle ground, with both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah sharing the position with two equal tenures.
Before the results of who will be the next CM of the state, lets take a look at the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of the two aspiring CMs.
All you need to know about Siddaramaiah's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats:
Born on August 12, 1948, the 75-year-old Siddaramaiah joined the grand old party in 2006 after his ouster from JD(S) of former Prime Minister Deve Gowda. Making his debut in the Assembly in 1983, Siddaramaiah got elected from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal Party ticket. He has won five times from this constituency and tasted defeat thrice. The former CM of Karnataka tasted defeat in the 1989 and 1999 Assembly elections. He was also Chairman of the KPCC Publicity Committee of Elections in 2008. Speaking of his education, Siddaramaiah graduated from Mysore University with B.Sc. Degree and later he studied Law.
A look at his strengths:
Siddaramaiah has a mass appeal across the state and is popular among a large section of Congress legislators. He has an experience of having run a full-term government as Chief Minister (2013-18). He is able administrator with experience of having presented 13 budgets and is clout among the AHINDA (Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes and Dalits). He has strong ability to take on BJP and JD(S), most importantly PM Modi and his government on issues and is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and apparently has his backing.
Weakness
Siddaramaiah is not so much organisationally connected with the party. He failed in bringing the Congress government back to power in 2018 under his leadership. He is still considered an outsider by a section of Congress old guard as he was formerly with the JD(S). His age is also seen as one of his weakness.
Siddaramaiah's opportunities:
His acceptability, appeal and experience to take along every one to run a government with a decisive mandate, and strengthen Congress for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Apart from this, IT, ED and CBI cases are there against opponent Shivakumar, who is also eyeing the CM post. This would be his last election and also a last chance to become CM.
Siddaramaiah's threats:
Uniting of senior Congress old guards like Mallikarjun Kharge, G Parameshwara, who have missed becoming CM because of Siddaramaiah, also B K Hariprasad, K H Muniyappa among others are against him. There is a also a call for a Dalit CM in the state.
All you need to know about DK Shivakumar's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats:
He is a trusted lieutenant of the Gandhi family, Shivakumar is an eight-time MLA. Born on May 15, 1962, in Kanakapura to Doddalahalli Kempe Gowda and Gouramma, Shivakumar has been a staunch Congressman from the beginning. He started his political career as a student leader in the 1980s and gradually rose through the ranks of the Congress party.
Shivakumar's Strength:
Shivakumar's organisational strength, party's 'troubleshooter' tag, loyalty image across the country, and closeness to Gandhi family, especially Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
He has a strong organisational capabilities and having led the party to victory in elections. He is party loyalist and considered Congress' ace troubleshooter during difficult times. He is also a resourceful leader and has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders. He is close to the Gandhi family and has a long political experience.
Shivakumar's Weakness:
There are cases against him before IT, ED and CBI. He served jail term in Tihar. He has lesser mass appeal and experience compared to Siddaramaiah. He is clout by and large limited to the Old Mysuru region. He does not have much backing from other communities.
Shivakumar's Opportunities
Congress' domination of the Old Mysuru region would go to Shivakumar, a Vokkaliga. KPCC President, as the natural choice to be the CM, like in the case of SM Krishna and Veerendra Patil. There are also chances of the party old guard backing him.
Shivakumar's Threats:
The main threat to him is Siddaramaiah's experience, seniority and mass appeal. There are chances of large number of MLAs backing Siddaramaiah. The legal matters could also be a hurdle for his, plus there is a call for a Dalit or Lingayat CM. Siddaramaiah too has a backing from Rahul Gandhi.
(With inputs from PTI)
