TWO AND A HALF MEN

Both contenders for CM's post harden their stand; CLP leaves choice to High Command; views of all MLAs being elicited; one of the formulae is for a rotational CM - for two and a half years each

- SHANKAR RAJ

The Congress Legislature Party met here on Sunday even as the two top contenders for the leadership of the party - Siddaramaiah and KPCC chief DK Shivakumar - hardened their stand on occupying the chief minister's chair.

In keeping with the mood in both camps, supporters of both the leaders unleashed a poster war in Bengaluru. One unabashedly hailed Siddaramaiah as the next chief minister while DKS supporters wished the new CM a happy birthday, which falls on Monday. Sources close to DKS have said that he would not work under Siddaramaiah if the latter is made the CM.

Selection of one over the other would trigger a major rift-something that the party leadership cannot afford. So, it has all boiled down to a battle between old 'war horse' Siddaramaiah or 'crisis-manager' Shivakumar. One thing is clear the Congress party's nominee would be crucial for charting the road to the 2024 election.