If the Congress returns to power, who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka?

Well there is a big debate raging in Congress circles regarding this issue and the names of both Mallikarjuna Kharge and S M Krishna are cropping up.

One Congress worker decided to put an end to this confusion and asked All India Congress Committee general secretary Rahul Gandhi [Images] this question.

Rahul is in Karnataka on a five-day tour during which he will meet people from across the state.

During an interaction at the Vivekananda Girijana Development centre at B R Hills on Tuesday, one person from the crowd stood up and told Rahul, "We need a Dalit chief minister from the Congress. It would be best if you would nominate Mallikarjuna Kharge for the job."

Kharge was the first to react. He said, "Don't raise this question here." However, the man did not stop and wanted an answer.

Rahul was forced to answer this question. He said, "I would prefer more and more youngsters at the helm of affairs in the party. I personally want more Dalits to come into politics. If there are young and bright persons, I will surely push them to get any position."

Kharge seemed visibly upset when the question on who would be the next CM was completely dodged by Rahul, but the man who asked the question did not seem to give up and once again asked, "Will the chief of the Congress in Karnataka (Kharge) be made the CM?"

Rahul sensed that the issue was turning a bit controversial and decided to dodge it by saying, "This is between Karnataka and Delhi. It is a Delhi matter and I would not want to say anything on it."