Karnataka chief minister: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, a prominent candidate for the position, arrived in Delhi on Monday. According to party sources, the central observers of the Congress party for Karnataka have submitted their report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge. Kharge will consult with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi to reach a final decision.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge with senior party leaders Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, during the celebrations after the party’s win in Karnataka Assembly elections. (PTI)
The announcement of the next Karnataka Chief Minister is expected to be made within the next 24 hours, sources revealed.
Congress emerged victorious in the Karnataka polls with a significant majority.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is a contender for the position, arrived in Delhi on Monday.
On the other hand, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, who is also vying for the Chief Minister’s post, cited a stomach infection and announced that he would not be traveling to Delhi on Monday.
“I do not have any MLAs. There are 135 Congress MLAs. I have left the decision to the party high command,” Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru.
The Congress party had appointed three observers – Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Bawaria, and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh – who were assigned to engage with the newly-elected Congress MLAs.
The Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday unanimously passed a resolution authorizing party president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide the name of the next Karnataka Chief Minister.
Congress secured 135 seats, surpassing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with its 66 seats.
