Karnataka Election 2023: Congress leader RV Deshpande eyes winning streak for record 9th time; check details

Among the Congress candidates in the state, Deshpande (76) is the senior most contesting for the ninth consecutive time. He also equals AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's record of winning the greatest number of assembly polls in the state.

Team Newsable

First Published May 5, 2023, 2:54 PM IST

Veteran Congress leader RV Deshpande is eying to create a record in Karnataka if he wins for the ninth time in the assembly poll this year. According to Deshpande, this could be his last election. He also noted he is not a man who will fight for the Chief Minister's post.

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Deshpande was originally not a congressman. He switched over to Congress in 1999 from the Janata Parivar. Until then, he got elected to the assembly in four elections from the Janata Parivar.

In an interview to PTI, Deshpande said: "Kharge and I have won assembly elections eight times. If I win this time, it will be a record in the House. Nobody has won nine times."

Asked why he has been lying low and does not figure in the list of contenders for CM despite being the senior most, he said, "I am not lying low in a way because I am a very disciplined man. I am not in any race. ...there could be a desire for CM, but you should not fight for that."

He denied senior Congress leaders like Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar were fighting it out for the CM's post, should the party win the May 10 Assembly polls.

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"They have a desire. If I get an offer, I will have a desire. But I am the last man to fight for that."

Deshpande said he has worked with eight chief ministers from Ramkrishna Hegde till date. "I led padayatra against the mining mafia in Bellary. I have so many things to my credit," he said.

Moreover, as per the Constitution, it is left to the legislative party and the high command to decide who should be the CM, he added.

Deshpande also mentioned, "most likely, this could be the last election (for him). If God and voters help, this could be a record... it is difficult to fit in the current politics as the political discourse has fallen very low."

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Deshpande is contesting from the Haliyal assembly segment, where BJP has fielded Sunil Hegade, while SL Ghotnekar is contesting on a JD(S) ticket. The Aam Aadmi Party has fielded Gurudeep Singh Sandhu.

In a triangular fight in the Haliyal assembly segment that has 1.75 lakh voters, the dominant Marathi-speaking population will be a decisive factor. Ghotnekar -- a former MLC who defected from the Congress -- is a Maratha and it needs to be seen in which way the votes will shift. BJP is also trying hard to defeat Deshpande.

"Marathas have shown their secular credentials in all my elections. Earlier, there were Maratha candidates contesting from this constituency, I am confident that they will vote for Congress and for the work I have done," Deshpande said.

The Congress will win with a reasonable margin, he added.

(With inputs from PTI)

Last Updated May 5, 2023, 2:54 PM IST