Rahul hints at Siddaramaiah's second innings

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday dropped hints that Siddaramaiah will continue as the chief minister if the party comes back to power.

"A person who is a leader of masses and who has popular support will be the next chief minister," the Congress leader said in an informal interaction with mediapersons. As he said it, he looked at Siddaramaiah, indicating that he is the popular leader of the party in the state.

Rahul's statement assumes significance as there are many claimants to the chief minister's post in the party. A section of state leaders had recently complained to the high command against Siddaramaiah for projecting himself as the next chief minister. However, Rahul also said that the Congress legislature party will elect the next person for the state's top job.

In two places

Rahul also indicated that Siddaramaiah may contest from two constituencies in the May 12 polls. "Except for Siddaramaiah, none of the leaders has sought ticket from two places," he said on seeking his reaction to some leaders aspiring to contest from two constituencies.

On Opposition parties' charges that the Congress government has been dividing dharma, the AICC president said, "The party has neither divided any dharma or community nor do we have any such intention." He, in turn, accused the BJP and the RSS of following the divide-and-rule policy.

Asked about Dalit leader Jignesh Mevani, who recently called upon the youth to disrupt Prime Minister Narendra Modi's poll rallies, he said it is not proper to make such statements.