Bangalore:

Back in power after seven years, the Congress is still savouring the victory in Karnataka. But a day after the results, comes the big task - who will be the Chief Minister? For now, Siddaramaiah and Mallikarjun Kharge are being seen as the top contenders.

It was a decisive victory for the Congress on Wednesday after a bitter battle with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). What appeared to be a close fight ended with a win - the result brought the Congress to power in the state after seven years and for the first time in over a decade with a complete majority.

Battered by a series of scams at the national stage, the Congress put up an impressive show in the Karnataka Assembly Elections crossing the half-way mark of 113 seats in a House of 224, and going on to win a clear majority of 121 seats, obviating the need for crutches and belying predictions.

However, a dampener in the victory was the defeat of the KPCC chief G Parameshwara from his seat and that defeat ends his dream of the Chief Minister's job. But one other major contender Siddaramaiah won his seat. The veteran OBC leader who fell out with HD Deve Gowda and shifted to the Congress has been the party's face in its offensive against the BJP and he made his ambitions fairly clear.

Siddaramiah said, "I'm a frontrunner in the race for the Chief Minister, but will abide by Congress high command decision."

Meanwhile, big question arises after a clear verdict is that can the Congress give a stable and decisive government to a state that's suffered from political chaos over the last few years.

source:http://ibnlive.in.com