Radhakrishna Doddamani, the son-in-law of M. Mallikarjun Kharge, is emerging as the top contender for the Congress ticket in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the constituency of the party's President.
Kharge, at 81, had previously won twice from the Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) Lok Sabha segment but faced defeat in the 2019 polls. A senior party member noted that Kharge, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, is deeply involved in managing national party affairs and coordinating with INDIA bloc partners.
Additionally, with four more years left in his Rajya Sabha term, Kharge is reportedly disinclined to contest from Kalaburagi. Even his son, Priyank Kharge, a Minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet in Karnataka, has shown no interest in entering the electoral fray.
Doddamani, a businessman with interests in education, is currently leading the pack, according to party insiders. The final decision on the candidacy for Gulbarga will rest with the Congress President after consultations with senior leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. However, Kharge's preference will carry significant weight, given that it's his home turf.
Despite initial hesitations, Doddamani, born in Kalaburagi, has been asked to prepare for candidacy. He has long been involved in behind-the-scenes management and strategy for Kharge's electoral campaigns and enjoys popularity among party workers and supporters, particularly in the Gurmitkal Assembly segment.
Recent discussions among Congress poll managers in Kalaburagi have centered around Doddamani's potential candidacy and ensuring his victory. Kharge's defeat by Umesh Jadhav of the BJP in 2019 marked his first electoral loss, challenging his long-standing reputation as "Solillada Saradara" (a leader without defeat).
The 2019 election proved challenging for Kharge due to several senior Congress leaders defecting to the BJP, citing grievances over the perceived dominance of Kharge and his son in the region. Despite his extensive political career spanning various ministerial portfolios and leadership roles, Gulbarga has historically been a Congress stronghold.
However, the BJP's victory in 2019 highlighted shifting political dynamics in the region. With Congress currently holding six out of eight assembly seats in Gulbarga, the upcoming elections will be closely watched to see if the party can reclaim its foothold.
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