Mallikarjun Kharge Unlikely To Contest LS Polls, Backs Son-In-Law From His Seat

Bengaluru: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s son-in-law Radhakrishna Doddamani is emerging as the top contender for the Congress ticket in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Gulbarga (Kalaburagi), the home turf of Kharge.

Mallikarjun Kharge, who has previously won from Gulbarga twice, lost in the 2019 polls. With Kharge reportedly not keen on contesting from Gulbarga again and his son Priyank Kharge also not interested, Doddamani, a businessman with experience in managing educational institutions, appears to be the frontrunner for the ticket.

Doddamani, who hails from Kalaburagi, has been actively involved in managing and strategizing for Kharge’s electoral campaigns and is well-regarded among party workers and supporters. Despite initially hesitating, Doddamani has been asked to prepare for candidacy. The final decision rests with Mallikarjun Kharge, who holds significant sway in Gulbarga politics.

The 2019 defeat was a setback for Kharge, known as “Solillada Saradara,” marking his first electoral loss in a long political career. The election saw BJP’s Umesh Jadhav defeating Kharge by a significant margin. Several senior leaders from the region had defected to BJP, citing dissatisfaction with Kharge’s leadership and influence in the area.

Gulbarga, historically a Congress stronghold, has seen a shift in recent years, but the party still holds a majority of the assembly seats. The upcoming election will be crucial for Congress to regain ground in the region.