Cong to elect CLP leader on June 7

However, KPCC President R V Deshpande on Thursday said the CLP will decide through election. Union Minister Gulam Nabi Azad, in-charge of the party affairs in the State, will be present at the meeting.  The post has become vacant following Mallikharjun Kharge’s resignation as MLA. All the 73 MLAs, 28 MLCs and 12 MPs have been invited to attend the meet, Deshpande said.

Asked whether it is a foregone conclusion that Siddaramaiah would be the new leader, he said, “The agenda is to conduct election. A unanimous leader may also emerge”.
Congress senior leaders Dr G Parameshwara and T B Jayachandra are also keen on the post. It is learnt that they have not been sounded by the high command to be ‘ready’ to take up the new responsibility. Both did not lobby hard like Siddaramaiah to occupy the post. The CLP leader will be the leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. 

When contacted, Jayachandra said he has been deputy leader for a good number of years and it is natural for him to aspire for a promotion. Dr Parameshwara said he did not lobby for the post. They did not comment when asked if Siddaramaiah would get the support of the rank and file of the party if he becomes the CLP leader.