A day after Karnataka voted in the Assembly elections after witnessing a high-octane campaign between the BJP and Congress, incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that he has no problem if the high command decides to choose a Dalit leader for the state's top post. But, he made it clear, no one could forcibly take the decision – and he was quick to add that he was popular among MLAs, whose opinion will have weight in the final decision.
"If High Command says they will make a Dalit the CM, I will tell them go ahead. I am not against anybody. But you see, MLAs also have to give an opinion... No one can force... MLAs also have to give their opinion. High Command also has to agree to that. Forcefully making someone a CM is difficult. You can't run a government like that," said Siddaramaiah in Mysuru.