MANGALURU: The victory of Congress has sprouted hopes and expectations among the major achievers and leaders in the Congress.
With Congress almost sweeping the Kalyana Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka region, expectations are that the Lingayat community leaders would be given good representation in the cabinet and with good portfolios.
While the Chief Minister candidate is yet to be finalized, the next challenge for the Congress is the selection of ministers.
Selection of ministers needs to be done in a planned manner not only to maintain a healthy atmosphere in the party but also in the wake of next year’s Parliament election. Contented with the assembly election performance, Congress wants to continue its victory saga even in the 2024 Parliament election. So it will have to tread every step carefully without annoying any of the supporters who had backed in this election.
The Lingayat community is strong in the North Karnataka region. In almost every speech Rahul Gandhi had mentioned Basavanna. According to sources about 37 Lingayat MLAs have won in Congress and thus the party is likely to keep them in good humor. Leaders like MB Patil are the top in the race.
Meanwhile, Senior leader, and leader of Congress in the Council BK Hariprasad who had largely contributed to the victory of the party in the election is said to be one of the top leaders in the list who are likely to enter the cabinet.
Leaders who had defeated sitting Ministers of the Bommai government and prominent MLAs too are expecting to be given an apt place in the new government. Laxman Savadi who had recently quit BJP and joined Congress and who defeated BJP's Mahesh Kumathalli with a huge margin is likely to enter the cabinet from Belagavi.
In undivided Dakshina, Kannada Congress has only two MLAs. UT Khader who had served as the Minister in Siddaramaiah government and also coalition government is likely to enter the cabinet.
