Siddaramaiah ahead in Karnataka CM race; Congress trying to woo DK Shivakumar

New Delhi: Former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah is said to be leading the race for the new Karnataka chief minister owing to the support of a majority of the newly elected MLAs in the southern state, while state Congress chief DK Shivakumar is also unwilling to give up his post. According to Congress party sources currently claiming the top post, Siddaramaiah is most likely to be declared as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka and Shivakumar as his deputy.

Sources, however, said the Congress central leadership is also considering a split tenure of 2.5 years as CM for the two top leaders from Karnataka, to avoid any factionalism and infighting in the party.

Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met Rahul Gandhi amid the current impasse over the next chief minister of the southern state, four days after the party’s landslide victory in the assembly polls. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge met the two top contenders last evening amid ongoing efforts towards a settlement. Congress sources said Siddaramaiah (75) and Shivakumar (61) have been asked to stay in Delhi for now.

The Congress central leadership is holding a series of intense consultations to choose the new Karnataka chief minister, with both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar sticking to their claims for the top post and their supporters lobbying hard for them.

Party sources had earlier said that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is likely to reach Delhi today from Himachal Pradesh and is expected to meet some leaders who are part of the decision-making process in Karnataka. Sources said DK Shivakumar has indicated that he will abide by the decision taken by Sonia Gandhi to help the party resolve the leadership issue in the state.

New contenders for Karnataka CM’s chair

Former Deputy CM of Karnataka Dr G Parameshwara has also shown his eagerness for the top job in the state, saying that if he is entrusted with the responsibility, he will fulfill it. “If the Congress high command gives me the responsibility of chief minister’s post, I will definitely fulfill it. They know everything about me and my work. I don’t want to lobby,” he said.

However, Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal said a good decision would come. “Judgment will come, wait. Good decisions will come. It will come sooner.”

Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar camping in Delhi

With the action shifting to Delhi, both former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar reached Delhi. The Congress leadership is keen on an early decision on the choice of chief minister and also want to ensure that there is no rift in running the government or the party in Karnataka so that the party can focus on its preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha. Election.

In Rajasthan, the Congress is already grappling with factionalism and in Chhattisgarh the differences on the leadership issue have not completely resolved. The exit of Jyotiraditya Scindia hurt the party in Madhya Pradesh. The Congress leadership is considering a formula where Karnataka can have a Deputy Chief Minister along with the Chief Minister to meet the aspirations of various communities.

Central observers appointed by the party in Karnataka spoke to the MLAs and submitted their reports to the party leadership. Sources said Kharge will take a final call after consulting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. “No final decision has been taken on the CM post of Karnataka yet. The Congress President has met all the stakeholders. Now the final decision will be taken by him in consultation with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The announcement may get delayed and the announcement Might be possible.” Made in Bengaluru itself,” said a source.

Kharge held meetings with both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah on Tuesday. Siddaramaiah came to Kharge’s residence along with his son Yatindra and MLAs Jameer Ahmed, Bhairati Suresh and senior leader KJ George.

Will not blackmail the party: Shivakumar

Earlier in the day, Shivakumar said in an exclusive interview with ANI that he would not resort to “backstabbing or blackmail” regardless of the party’s decision. “The party can give me responsibility if it wants… We have a joint house, we are 135. I don’t want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am responsible.” Man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail,” he said.

“The party is my God…we have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this,” he said before leaving for Bengaluru. “We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it… A mother will give everything to her child,” he said.

Asked about his hopes as state party president, Shivakumar said, “I don’t want to comment on what happened earlier. How it happened. It’s a closed chapter, we formed the government, we lost the government.” We lost a coalition government.” There is no point in talking about who is responsible for victory and defeat. Let us not sell this story… let us sell the future. The Congress registered a landslide victory in Karnataka by securing 135 seats in the 224-member assembly and reducing the BJP to 66 seats.