Bangalore: Backward class leader and senior Karnataka Minister Dharam Singh was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) at its meeting in Bangalore tonight (May 24, 2004).

Sixty-eight-year old former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president emerged as the party's choice after AICC observers Vilasrao Deshmukh and P M Sayeed had telephonic consultations with party president Sonia Gandhi.

Singh's election came at the second meeting of CLP, which earlier authorised Gandhi to decide the leadership issue.

Outgoing Chief Minister S M Krishna and senior Ministers Mallikarjuna Kharge, R V Deshpande and H K Patil were other strong contenders, but the scales ultimately tilted in favour of Singh.

Singh's choice is significant, as it takes him a step closer to the Chief Ministership in the event of the Congress heading the proposed coalition Government with the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) led by former Prime Minister H D Devegowda.

Speaking to reporters, Deshmukh said, "He (Singh) is our Chief Ministerial claimant" if efforts to forge a coalition Government led by the Congress succeeded.

Known as a non-controversial leader, Singh belonging to the microscopic Rajput community in Karnataka, hails from the backward Gulbarga district and is re-elected to the Assembly for the eighth term from Jewargi.

Singh's name was proposed by Krishna and seconded by other contenders. Deshmukh announced the election of Singh.