Karnataka CM race: Ending the ongoing suspense, the Congress high command has finalised senior leader Siddaramaiah as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka, sources said. This comes after three days of a tussle as Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar both were adamant on CM's post. The official announcement regarding the development will be made by Rahul Gandhi in a press conference at 1 pm.
The sources said that Shivakumar also gave his consent on Siddaramaiah's name as the next Chief Minister. They said DK Shivakumar will be made Deputy Chief Minister and continue as Karnataka PCC chief. Besides, he will also be given two key ministries in the state cabinet, sources said.
Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar also met party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi today. Earlier, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal visited party MP Sonia Gandhi's 10 Janpath residence in Delhi. She is expected to meet some leaders who are part of the decision-making process in Karnataka, sources added.
Siddaramaia, DK Shivakumar reached Delhi after election's result
The results of Karnataka assembly polls were declared on Saturday (May 13) and the newly-elected Congress MLAs on Sunday authorised Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge to take a decision on the CM post. With the action shifting to Delhi, both Siddaramaiah, a former Chief Minister of Karnataka, and Shivakumar reached Delhi.
As per sources, Congress leadership wants to ensure that there are no fissures either in the running of the government or the party in Karnataka so that the party can focus on its preparations for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
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