Bengaluru: The Congress High Command seems to be veering towards appointing either Karnataka Power Minister D.K. Shivakumar (DKS) or former IT BT Minister S.R. Patil as the party’s State Unit President.

This decision has been taken following the submission of a report by newly-appointed General Secretary in-Charge of Karnataka K.C. Venugopal and his team of four secretaries after their visit to the State. Sources said that the final decision will be taken by the High Command by May 31.

“The party will take an appropriate decision before May 31. You will hear about it in two to three days,” Venugopal told reporters yesterday when they sought to know when the party will appoint the new State President.

Sources said that Shivakumar was emerging as the top favourite in the race that includes incumbent State unit President Dr. G. Parameshwara, former Union Minister K. H. Muniyappa, both Dalits, S.R. Patil and Water Resources Minister M. B. Patil, both Lingayats.

CM Siddharamaiah is said to be backing S.R. Patil or M.B. Patil and one explanation of his choice is that it would help counter BJP Chief Ministerial candidate and Lingayat strongman B.S. Yeddyurappa.

Shivakumar has emerged as a favourite following the election of Basanagouda Badarli as the Karnataka Youth Congress President. Badarli is a Lingayat from North Karnataka and to balance the caste equations, the High Command is expected to choose DKS, a Vokkaliga strongman as KPCC Chief.

S.R. Patil was offered the KPCC President’s post last year, but he declined it as he wanted to focus on completing large-scale irrigation projects before the five-year term of the government ends.

By appointing DKS as KPCC Chief, the party High Command is attempting to rein in Siddharamaiah and limit his growing influence after the Congress scored by-election victories in Nanjangud and Gundlupet. Also, DKS is reportedly favoured by Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi.  

Dr. Parameshwara or Muniyappa will still be the dark horses as the High Command will have to take a call on whether Dalit leadership of the State unit should continue. Parameshwara has been the KPCC President for the last six-and-a-half years.

The CM is scheduled to meet the party leaders in New Delhi on May 29 to discuss whether to appoint a new KPCC President or allow Parameshwara to continue.