Dinesh Gundu Rao now the Karnataka Congress President

After days of speculation with stalwarts like DK Shivakumar in the fray, three-time MLA Dinesh Gundu Rao is now the Karnataka Congress President. 

The MLA was in the list of other leaders, who had been denied ministerial berths, in the current coalition between the JDS and the Congress. However, now Rahul Gandhi himself has appointed Dinesh Gundu Rao as the state president of the party today (July 4). 

While Dinesh Gundu Rao, belonging to the Brahmin community, and the Congress party chief, Rahul Gandhi, have shared a bond that has been a lasting one for years, the position is said to have been given to the MLA to keep him less disappointed for not having received a post in the cabinet.

Priyanka Chathurvedi, Congress spokesperson, explained that the reason behind the position leaning towards Dinesh Gundu Rao is because of his previous efforts, capabilities and experience as the working president of the party in the state, which will make him the ideal person to take the step ahead as Karnataka Congress president now. 

Sources say that this has however allegedly made senior leaders such as Ramalinga Reddy unhappy for not being considered for the post. On the other hand, sources also claim that D K Shivakumar was batting for the post of KPCC chief, but has been given a signal from Rahul Gandhi himself, stating that the MLA already holds dominant posts - Water Resources and Medical Education departments. 

"The qualities looked for in the probable candidates for the post of Congress president include demands such as the leader's rapport with all cadres of people in the state, the caste that the leader belongs to and also the bond he carries with his senior leaders," said Kengal Shreepada Renu, Congress spokesperson.

He also said that K H Patil, T B Jayachangdra and Hariprasad were the front-runners for the position. Was this the reason for delaying the decision for days?

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