Sonia Gandhi Bats For DKS As CM, Rattles Karnataka Cong Shibboleth

For once it was senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi who emerged as the mover and shaker in Karnataka politics as she came to taking the right call. She took the initiative of calling off Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s bogey that majority of the 137 Congress MLAs were backing him. She made it clear that there would have to be a regime change in Karnataka, no matter what. This tough message could not be conveyed to Siddaramaiah via her son Rahul Gandhi or AICC Gen Secretary K C Venugopal. She was clear that the promise to install deputy CM D K Shivakumar as Karnataka CM in this assembly had to be kept. She also made it clear that troubles that DKS had endured for the sake of the party — he was arrested in a money-laundering case in 2019 by the ED and was lodged in Tihar Jail. That was enough to prove his loyalty and commitment to the party. He has also been looking after son-in-law Robert Vadra’s realtor interest in Bengaluru. For these reasons and more DKS had to be rewarded. Party sources said Sonia was also firm that if any change in the CM were “to affect the Congress prospect in 2028 Karnataka assembly elections”,  the party leadership should not be unduly worried.  This message somewhat disturbed party stalwarts. But then it was this big push from Sonia that got the Congress to make the big move on Siddaramaiah. Of course, it is not clear if Siddaramaiah will accept a role in Delhi as Rajya Sabha LoP. He had out right refused a deputy CM role for his son Yathindra in the next govt. It is not clear what will be Mallikarjun Kharge’s role? Will he just remain Congress President and a Rajya Sabha MP?