Bengaluru: The Congress party has officially endorsed seven candidates for the upcoming June 13 elections, where eleven Members of the Legislative Council (MLCs) will be elected from the assembly.
Among the nominees, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah, stands out as an undisputed choice, having garnered broad support within the party.
Yathindra’s candidacy was affirmed following consultations between Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, and senior party leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, in New Delhi on Thursday.
The selection process for the remaining six seats has been more contentious. CM Siddaramaiah and DyCM Shivakumar had earlier presented a shortlist of candidates to the party’s high command. This shortlist, derived after thorough consultations and deliberations, originally featured 65 aspirants. The final list is anticipated to be released by the high command on Friday.
DyCM Shivakumar, upon returning from the national capital, elaborated on the selection process, stating, “Following extensive deliberations with the Central leadership, we presented a list of 65 shortlisted candidates. The final decision rests with the high command, which has already confirmed Yathindra’s candidacy. There is a significant number of aspirants from various regions, including 21 from Mangaluru and nine from Chikkamagaluru, representing Coastal, Central, and Kalyana Karnataka.”
The selection process has also taken into account the regional aspirations within the state. With numerous aspirants from various parts of Karnataka, particularly from Coastal, Central, and Kalyana Karnataka regions, the party aims to balance regional representation. This approach is designed to ensure that the council reflects the diverse political landscape of Karnataka.
Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara’s input has also been considered in the decision-making process. He had earlier emphasised the importance of considering the opinions of senior party members.
In response to his comments, DyCM Shivakumar assured that feedback from senior leaders had been taken into account.
“We have incorporated his feedback, and Parameshwara also had a meeting with the CM on this matter,” he stated, emphasising the inclusive nature of the candidate selection process.
The chosen candidates are expected to play significant roles in the state’s governance
