After four days of brainstorming, the Congress high command finally decided on veteran leader Siddaramaiah’s name to lead the government in Karnataka. State Congress chief DK Shivakumar will take oath as his deputy in a ceremony on May 20.
The two leaders came to Delhi to meet the Congress’s central leadership after the party’s emphatic victory in the May 10 Karnataka polls. Multiple rounds of discussions were held with both leaders by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge but the deadlock continued over power sharing. Both leaders wanted the coveted top post but with the majority of MLAs siding with Siddaramaiah, he got the backing of the party leadership.
Earlier in the day, supporters of DK Shivakumar gathered outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Delhi and held placards demanding the top post for their leader. Supporters of Siddaramaiah also gathered outside his residence in Bengaluru and poured milk over his posters.
After four days of deadlock, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge arrived at a consensus for Karnataka government formation. In the early hours of Thursday, it was declared that Siddaramaiah will be the next chief minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar will take oath as the deputy chief minister. The oath ceremony will be held in Bengaluru on May 20.
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The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting has been called in Bengaluru on Thursday at 7 pm. Formation of the state cabinet and portfolio distribution is likely to be discussed at the meeting.
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Congress made two offers to DK Shivakumar on Wednesday. Sources said the first option was to give Shivakumar the post of Deputy Chief Minister alongside his current role — heading the state party unit. He was also offered six ministries of his choice.
DK Shivakumar was also offered a power-sharing pact with Siddaramaiah being the chief minister for the first half and him being on the next term. According to sources, Shivakumar agreed to the power-sharing pact but wanted the top post for the first half of the five-year tenure.
DK Shivakumar was also offered a power-sharing pact with Siddaramaiah being the chief minister for the first half and him being on the next term. According to sources, Shivakumar agreed to the power-sharing pact but wanted the top post for the first half of the five-year tenure.
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said party president Mallikarjun Kharge will announce the new chief minister within 24 hours and a new state Cabinet within 48 to 72 hours.
Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar on Wednesday met Rahul Gandhi separately amid hectic parleys in the Congress to decide on the candidate for the top post in the southern state.
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Sources had told India Today that Siddaramaiah, the former chief minister, was the frontrunner for the top post as he had the backing of Rahul Gandhi and most of the MLAs.
Sources also said that Siddaramaiah wasn’t keen on letting go of the finance ministry, which was one of the flashpoints with Shivakumar.
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DK Shivakumar had been insisting on the top post, citing his work over the last five years, including rebuilding the party after their government fell in 2019 and leading the Congress to a massive mandate in the May 10 Assembly election.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah’s CM bid was based on a larger MLA support and surveys claiming his popularity, and also his 5-year complete tenure as a chief minister.
This report is auto-generated . SPO INDIA holds no responsibility for its content.
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