BENGALURU: Among the leaders being considered by the Congress high command for the post of Chief Minister in Karnataka, Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah has the upper hand. PCC President DK Shivakumar also deserves the same consideration and both have made claims as well.

The stands of AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also a Karnataka native, and Rahul Gandhi, who rocked Karnataka with his Bharat Jodo Yatra, will be the decisive factor.

Siddaramaiah

Pros:

• He was the Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018.
• A leader who has not been touched by the corruption and communalism that has been used as a campaign weapon against the BJP government in the current election.
• Huge acceptance among people.
• An orator who impresses the common people.

Cons:

• The allegation that he gave priority to officials of his own community 'Kuruba' and neglected the Lingayat and Vokkaliga groups.
• His praise of Tipu Sultan was controversial.
• Less loyalty to party leadership. He came to Congress from JDS.

DK Sivakumar

Pros:

• A fighter who made Congress fully equipped for the election battle. Architect of current success. The savior of the party in crisis.
• A leader who counter-strategies BJP tactics.
• The head of a business empire capable of dealing with BJP's money glut.
• A confidant of the Gandhi family. Eighth term to the assembly.

Cons:

• The CBI, ED, and the IT department have accused DK in multiple cases of money laundering and tax evasion. He spent 104 days in Tihar Jail and is now on bail.
• If he becomes the Chief Minister, the central government will speed up the move to jail him through these cases.