- By Aashish Vashistha
- Wed, 17 May 2023 07:48 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
DISCUSSIONS on who will be the new Karnataka Chief Minister are set to continue within the Congress party for another day. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge met senior leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah at his residence on Tuesday. Earlier, it was reported that Congress Chief could announce the name for the top post on Wednesday in Bengaluru, according to ANI which quoted people familiar with the development.
Kharge will take the final decision after consulting with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former party president Rahul Gandhi.
Here Are The Top Updates:
- Earlier on Tuesday, the Congress chief held meetings with former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and the party’s state unit chief DK Shivakumar separately at his residence in New Delhi. During the meeting, he discussed the modalities of government formation in the southern state. However, the meetings were inconclusive.
- "No Final decision has been made on the Karnataka CM post yet. Congress president has met all the stakeholders. 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 can be delayed until tomorrow and the announcement can be made in Bengaluru itself," news agency ANI reported citing sources.
- DK Shivakumar has already made it clear that irrespective of the party’s decision regarding the top post of Karnataka, he will not backstab the party.
“If the party wants they can give me the responsibility....... Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don't want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail,” Shivakumar was quoted as saying by ANI.
- Siddaramaiah also spent most of his time in Delhi where he met with senior Congress leaders. When asked if there would be any announcement on the post of Karnataka CM, he said, "Let's wait and see. I don't know.”
- Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also met Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday who is expected to announce his decision regarding the next Karnataka CM after going through the Congress central observers' report, which was submitted on Monday.
- Meanwhile, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha has written a letter to Mallikarjun Kharge pointing out that 34 of the 46 Lingayat leaders fielded by the grand old party has won and demanded that the party should give a chance to a Veerashaiva Lingayat community leader for the state’s top post.
- The Congress party received a thumping victory in the Karnataka Assembly election by winning as many as 135 seats while the BJP won 66 seats and the JD(S) won only 19 seats.