Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge spoke about missing out on the chance to become chief minister of Karnataka in 1999, alleging that a person who had just joined the party was selected instead. At a poll rally in Karnataka's Vijayapura, Kharge said that he contested the polls as Leader of Opposition in the state, but indicated that SM Krishna was selected as chief minister.
I contested the 1999 assembly elections as the Leader of Opposition. But SM Krishna, who had joined the party four months ago, was appointed chief minister," Kharge said at the function.
"I attempted to take the party to power, but Krishna was made the CM. The services I provided went in vain." Kharge added.
This indicates there was always resentment among Karnataka Congress leaders against party high command in deciding Karnataka's chief minister. The, reported, battle between CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar and their camp for the CM position does not come to an end.
Also read: 'We don't know reason behind Dhankhar's resignation': Kharge
SM Krishna was the chief minister of Karnataka between 1999 and 2004. Congress secured 132 out of 224 seats in the Assembly elections. The BJP, with BS Yeddyurappa as its leader, secured 44 seats, followed by Janata Dal (United) with 18, and Janata Dal (Secular) with 10, among others.
It also states, "Kharge served in the Cabinet of SM Krishna and later following congress chief ministers till his election in 2009 Lok Sabha and later was appointed as a minister for labour and employment. He served as a Union minister for Railways and Social Justice and Empowerment also".
In 2020, Kharge was re-elected to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka at the age of 78 years. In 2021, he was named as Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
He became the Congress party president in 2022 after he won against Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor. He was the first non-Gandhi party chief in 24 years and succeeded Sonia Gandhi, the longest-serving party president.
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