CM hopefuls in Karnataka

Twice the Deputy CM, will Siddaramaiah get to be CM despite leading from the front? Senior leader Veerappa Moily certainly thinks so.

Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge has indicated his willingness to shoulder the responsibility and was ready to be considered for the Chief Minister's post following the electoral victory in the state.

Despite his daughter Roopakala being denied a ticket from Kolar Gold Fields constituency, Union Union Minister of State KH Muniyappa was the first off the block to credit the victory to party chief Sonia Gandhi even before initial trends stabilised either way.

As the Congress unseated the BJP, Congress campaign committee co-chairman DK Shivakumar threw his hat in the ring as well by saying 10 Janpath will decide the next CM. For the record, Sonia Gandhi has already said MLAs will elect the new CM.

Dharam Singh (left), who's earned the sobriquet "ajatha shatru" (a man without enemies), has been a low-key leader.

A former CM, Congress leader Veerappa Moily is another dark horse.

Former External Affairs Minister SM Krishna's campaigning in Old Mysore region has led to credible Congress gains. He, like Moily, stands a strong chance as a consensus candidate.

KPCC president G. Parameshwara is a frontrunner but may fade into the background given the Congress penchant to have a CM from the dominant castes.

A dark horse, AICC General Secretary Oscar Fernandes has ruled himself out of the CM race but given the Congress penchant for micromanaging, he just may find himself in the hot seat.