Karnataka Polls: Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge Appoints Observers Ahead Of CLP Meeting In Bengaluru

Mallikarjun Kharge appointed three observers, including Maharashtra former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria.

Congress workers holding the party flag celebrate the party's win in Karnataka Assembly elections, outside Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: After registering a massive victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge appointed three observers, including Maharashtra former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria, for the election of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader on Sunday.

AICC general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal said that the three central observers will oversee the Congress Legislative Party meeting that is scheduled to start at 5.30pm on Sunday.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “Hon’ble Congress President has deputed Shri. Sushilkumar Shinde (Former Chief Minister, Maharashtra), Shri. Jitendra Singh (AICC GS) and Shri. Deepak Babaria (former AICC GS) as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka.”

VIDEO | "Our observers will convey their opinion to the high command and a decision will be taken thereafter," says Congress president @kharge in response to media queries on next CM of Karnataka. #KarnatakaResultsWithPTI pic.twitter.com/4HPGZBjI3A

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 14, 2023

Speaking on the election win, Venugopal had said “This is one of the milestones of the 2024 elections.” “The type of divisive politics that BJP does, is not going to be successful every time. This is a clear message. We stood for the poor people of Maharashtra. They stood for the rich. Finally, the poor won this election. This is a clear narrative of this election,” news agency ANI quoted Venugopal as saying.

The Congress made a stunning comeback in Karnataka, ousting the BJP from its lone south citadel with a comfortable majority in a morale booster victory that will be key for reviving its electoral fortunes ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

With an aggressive campaign against BJP, the Congress won 136 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, increasing its vote share by more than four per cent across different regions.

In the 2018 elections, the Congress had garnered a vote share of 38.04 per cent, followed by the BJP (36.22 per cent) and the JD(S) with 18.36 per cent. In the just-concluded elections, Congress' vote share rose to 42.88 per cent and that of JD(S) dropped to 13.29 per cent. The BJP, however, was able to hold to its vote share of 36 per cent.