Radhakrishna Doddamani, the son-in-law of Congress stalwart Mallikarjun Kharge, has emerged as the leading contender for the party's nomination to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Gulbarga, a constituency deeply associated with the party's president.
This significant development was confirmed by a senior party official, who remarked, "Doddamani, a versatile entrepreneur engaged in managing educational institutions, appears to be the frontrunner in contention for the party ticket."
Having secured victory twice in the past from the Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) Lok Sabha constituency, the octogenarian Kharge faced defeat in the 2019 polls.
Reflecting on Kharge's current disposition and clarifying his reluctance to vie for the Kalaburagi seat, the party official elaborated, "The esteemed Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha is preoccupied with numerous responsibilities. Apart from overseeing the party's national affairs, he shoulders the task of coordinating with partners within the INDIA bloc. Moreover, he still has four more years of his tenure in the Rajya Sabha."
On a parallel note, Priyank Kharge, who represents the Chittapur assembly constituency within the Gulbarga segment and serves as a Minister in the Siddaramaiah cabinet in Karnataka, has indicated a lack of interest in joining the electoral fray.
According to sources within the party cited by news agency PTI, Mallikarjun Kharge will ultimately decide whether to contest the upcoming polls after consulting with top-ranking leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
The final determination regarding Doddamani's candidacy for the Gulbarga constituency will also rest with Mallikarjun Kharge.
Hailing from Kalaburagi, Doddamani has maintained a modest profile while garnering admiration from party workers and supporters, particularly within the Gurmitkal Assembly segment, a region previously represented by Kharge uninterruptedly from 1972 to 2004.
