• By JE News Desk
  • Mon, 15 May 2023 06:00 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

AS CONGRESS is yet to decide the next Chief Minister face for Karnataka, party state president DK Shivakumar, an aspirant for the top post on Monday said that the decision to appoint the CM is left with the party's high command. However, he claimed the party's victory in the state, saying he has the backing of 135 MLAs. 

"Under my leadership, we've 135 MLAs, all in one voice said-matter (to appoint CM) is to be left to the party high command. My aim was to deliver Karnataka and I did it," Shivakumar said, quoted by ANI.

Congress senior leader confirmed his visit to Delhi as the Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will announce the name for the next CM for Karnataka.

"Congress high command called me and Siddaramaiah to Delhi. Sonia Gandhi, Kharge had given me the post of president. 135 seats have come under my presidency. When all MLAs left our party and we lost our government, I did not lose hope. I do not want to disclose what has happened in the last 5 years," the Karnataka Congress chief said.

"It is my birthday today, I will meet my family. Afterwards, I will leave for Delhi," he added.

Meanwhile, former chief minister and top contenor for the Karnataka CM post, Siddaramaiah has already arrived in Delhi on Monday to meet the top Congress leadership as the party engaged in the process of picking the next Chief Minister of the southern state.

Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, both Congress leaders have expressed their desire for the CM post, raising concerns over a stand-off if the matter is unresolved. Days after the Karnataka election result was declared, many supporters gathered outside the residence of Shivakumar in Bengaluru and raised slogans of "We want DK Shivakumar as CM".

The voting on 224-member assembly constituencies in Karnataka was held on May 10 and the results were concluded on May 13. The Congress received a resounding victory with 135 votes while BJP got 66 votes in high-stake Karnataka polls.