DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Congress chief, had a crucial meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge regarding the Chief Minister post. In the 45-minute discussion, Shivakumar presented his case for the top position.
Sources suggest that the party did not inform DK Shivakumar about the likelihood of Siddaramaiah becoming the Chief Minister and only asked for his opinion during their inconclusive meeting. Kharge intends to maintain a balance and has scheduled further discussions for tomorrow.
The question of the Chief Minister’s appointment has become a challenging issue for the party, given its implications for the upcoming general election. The party had deployed observers to individually meet the newly elected MLAs and gather their feedback. Reports suggest that a majority of the MLAs favor Siddaramaiah as their preferred choice.
The observer team has submitted its report and held multiple meetings with the party’s senior leaders. Earlier today, Kharge, along with Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal, had a meeting to discuss the situation.
Shivakumar has been firm in his claim to the Chief Minister post, citing his contributions to rebuilding the party after the collapse of the coalition government with HD Kumaraswamy’s Janata Dal Secular.
However, he emphasized that he would not resort to blackmail. He mentioned that Sonia Gandhi had expressed confidence in his ability to deliver Karnataka. Shivakumar expects acknowledgement for his role in the party’s recent victory.
During interactions with reporters, he asserted that he has the support of a significant number of MLAs who would back him in the Legislature Party meeting. He stated that 135 MLAs had expressed their opinion and passed a one-line resolution, demonstrating their support for him. Shivakumar considers the backing of these 135 MLAs as his source of power and credits their support for the Congress party’s success, securing 135 seats.
