D K Shivakumar, the president of the Karnataka Congress, announced on Monday that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the party’s national general secretary, has agreed to campaign and spend time in the state ahead of the Assembly elections next year.

The KPCC chief’s unexpected trip to New Delhi came amid reports of a rift between him and Congress Legislative Party leader Siddaramaiah over potential candidates for the state’s upcoming MLC elections.

“Everyone will want their leader to visit their state, but it hasn’t been discussed yet,” Shivakumar said in response to a question about several state leaders insisting that Priyanka Gandhi run for the Rajya Sabha elections from Karnataka.

He said this to reporters in New Delhi: “We suggested that she volunteer for the state during the elections (assembly polls), and she agreed. She has stated that she will campaign in the state…there has been no discussion about Rajya Sabha tickets.”

This comes amid reports that some Karnataka Congress leaders, including Shivakumar, want Priyanka Gandhi to run for the Rajya Sabha elections on June 10 because they believe it will help the party in the upcoming Assembly elections.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra should “concentrate on the south, where elections are coming up,” according to Shivakumar. “We have given our opinion, and the high command will decide,” Shivakumar said, adding that he and Siddaramaiah had jointly submitted a list of candidates to the high command for MLC polls. There were over 200 applicants for the two seats, indicating that competition is fierce. There are also people who possess the necessary qualifications and abilities but have not applied.

The list should be finalised and announced by this evening, he said, because tomorrow is the last day to submit nominations. “When recommending names, we took into account all aspects, including social justice,” he added. The election is necessary because seven members’ terms of office are set to expire on June 14.

Due to the retirement of MLCs Laxman Sangappa Savadi and Lahar Singh Siroya of the BJP; Ramappa Timmapur, Allum Veerabhadrappa, Veena Achaiah S of the Congress; and H M Ramesha Gowda and Narayana Swamy K V of the JD — the seats will be vacant (S).

According to official sources, each MLC candidate will need a minimum of 29 votes to win this election, and based on the minimum votes required and the strength of each party in the Legislative Assembly, the BJP will be able to win four seats, the Congress two, and the JD(S) one.

“The party will decide regarding his candidacy,” Shivakumar said in response to a question about whether senior party leader and former Minister S R Patil is a likely candidate for the Rajya Sabha election. “At the party’s recent ‘Chintan Shivir’ (in Jaipur), it was decided that new faces should be given an opportunity from top to bottom level, so considering all aspects, the high command will take a call.”

He explained that he came to Delhi unexpectedly to collect election forms and to attend a meeting about organising state-wide yatras and state-level ‘Chintan Shivirs,’ as decided at the Jaipur meeting.

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