Bengaluru: With the stars on his side, DK Shivakumar eyeing CM's post?

Bengaluru: With many an exit poll predicting a hung assembly, the number of CM wannabes in the Congress party has drastically increased even as calculations are being feverishly made on which leader and which political permutation would be ideal in case of a fractured verdict.

Some Congress leaders are working on the premise that they will emerge as the single largest party but may fall short of a majority leaving the scene open for political games. One among the ambitious lot is none other than Vokkaliga strongman from Ramanagara district and Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar. who is reportedly meticulously planning to catapult himself to centrestage.

Interestingly, Mr Shivakumar has gone underground a day before the counting on Tuesday when he also celebrates his birthday. His close confidants claimed that he had got tickets for many of his supporters in the Congress in the hope that they would support him in case the party decided to go for a secret ballot within the Congress legislature party to select the CM choice.

Apart from his 'internal arrangements,' he has reportedly built bridges with the Gowda family. On Sunday, an astrologer predicted that any leader having his birthday on the 15th of the month and whose lucky number is six, could be CM. His followers claim Mr Shivakumar's lucky number is six as all his cars and his brother's cars too bear the number, '6000'. Mr Shivakumar going underground is seen as an attempt by himself to reach out to JD (S) leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy.

“After S.M. Krishna, no Vokkaliga has become chief minister. This time, we have to get it. That's why there are things happening on this front. Let's see what happens on counting day on Tuesday,” sources said.