Siddaramaiah As CM, DK Shivakumar As Deputy CM

Congress which made a stunning comeback in Karnataka by trouncing BJP is caught up with the internal battle between former CM Siddaramaiah and its state party president DK Shivakumar for the top post. Shivakumar, who was instrumental in the party’s victory, wanted the chance to run the government. 

The party had reportedly taken the internal voting of its MLAs on the next leader. With the majority of its MLAs favouring Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar’s chances to become CM weakened. Yet Shivakumar didn’t budge and mounted huge pressure on the party and its top brass for the CM post. 

With both Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar not budging, Congress leaders had a very tough time in persuading both. At one point even, Congress brought the CM seat-sharing principle with each sharing the post for 2.5 years. Yet Shivakumar turned down this option too citing Siddaramaiah would not oblige to this after 2.5 years. 

After 5 days of constant deliberations and assurances and involving party’s top leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and party national president Mallikarjun Kharge, finally Congress seems to have clinched the deal for Karnataka. AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and Karnataka incharge Randeep Surjewala have briefed Siddaramiah and Shivakumar about the formula till late night of Wednesday. 

Amid intense speculation on the next CM, Congress has persuaded Siddaramaiah to be the next CM and DK Shivakumar as the Deputy CM. The announcement on this is expected today i.e Thursday. Along with this, Congress is busy preparing the list of the cabinet ministers. The Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting has been called in Bengaluru today. More details are awaited.