Four AICC observers to visit K'taka to decide CM issue

Congress is sending four AICC observers led by A K Antony to Karnataka tomorrow to elicit the views of newly elected MLAs on the issue of Chief Ministership.

"Senior minister A K Antony, AICC general secretary in-charge of the state Madhusudan Mistri, Luizinho Faleiro, who was Karnatataka's screening committee chairman, and Union Minister Jitender Singh are going as AICC observers to Karnataka tomorrow," party general secretary Janardan Dwivedi told PTI.

Congress yesterday made a spectacular come back in the state after seven years in its old southern bastion, decimating the ruling BJP whose fate was sealed by a fractious split and corruption charges.

Congress put up an impressive show in the elections bagging 121 seats, eight more than the half-way mark in a House of 224. Polls were held for 223 seats with one countermanded after a BJP candidate died.

The party's victory immediately triggered a Chief Ministerial race involving OBC leader Siddaramaiah and Dalit leader and Central Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

Other leaders like M Veerappa Moily, a former Chief Minister, also cannot be ruled out, analysts say.

The shock defeat of KPCC chief G Parameshwara virtually eliminated him from the race for chief ministership.