Karnataka CM Race updates: DK Shivakumar rejects dy CM post, ‘deadlock continues’

on Karnataka CM decision, Congress MLA Ajay Dharam Singh said, “Our senior leaders and high command are coming to a conclusion. The decision will be announced by taking both leaders in confidence. They will be seen together in upcoming meetings.”

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar arrives at the residence of general secretary KC Venugopal. He said, “There is nothing to tell…we have left it to the high command…High command will take the call. I’m going for rest.” (ANI)

“I think it will get finalised by tonight. There is no problem at all,” says Congress leader Ajay Singh on announcement of new Karnataka CM. (PTI)

Siddaramaiah will meet Congress party’s Karnataka incharge Randeep Surjewala and general secretary KC Venugopal at the latter’s residence in Delhi, ANI reported.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala holds meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge following discussions with Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar.

Congress leader and the third person in the CM race of Karnataka while talking to PTI said, “I have worked as PCC president for eight years. I brought the govt in 2013. I have been a deputy CM in the coalition govt. I certainly have the seniority and capacity to run the government.” 

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal arrives at the residence of the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge, in Delhi, ANI reported.

After the Kharge meeting, DKS moves on to another meeting at Randeep Singh Surjewala’s house. Both sides express a desire to meet with former Congress President Sonia Gandhi to resolve the impasse. However, she is not expected to arrive in the national capital till May 20.

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Wednesday evening arrived at the residence of the party’s incharge for the state, Randeep Surjewala in Delhi.

Karnataka CM candidate DK Shivakumar on Wednesday while leaving from the residence of his brother and party MP DK Suresh said, “Nothing, no discussion. Just pranaam…” as he was asked about meeting with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. (ANI)

The Congress party, despite its resounding victory in the Karnataka assembly elections with 135 seats, is currently deliberating on the selection of the chief minister. The race for the post has intensified between KPCC president DK Shivakumar and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Top 10 recent developments here.

On Wednesday, political strategist-turned-activist Prashant Kishor issued a cautionary message to the Congress party, urging them to exercise caution when extrapolating the results of the recently-concluded Karnataka assembly elections to the upcoming national elections next year. Read more

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar on Monday insisted on “all or nothing”, and asked “what Siddaramaiah has done in 3 years?” He further said that Siddaramaiah’s CM bid based on larger MLA support and surveys claiming public popularity, also 5-year complete tenure.

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Monday held a discussion with party leaders and his supporters at his brother-party MP DK Suresh’s residence, ANI reported.

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar was seen arriving at the residence of his brother and party MP DK Suresh in Delhi on Wednesday. He will be meeting Kharge and Rahul Gandhi later this evening. (ANI)

A second round of meetings have been scheduled at 6 pm between KPCC chief DK Shivakumar and Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge this evening, which party leader Rahul Gandhi is also slated to attend. The Congress party is expected to announce its decision on the next Karnataka CM soon.

The Congress party on Wednesday shared pictures of party leader Rahul Gandhi meeting former CM Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. Calling Gandhi a “jannayak” – leader of the people – the Congress tweeted, “Rahul Gandhi ji met DK Shivakumar ji and Siddaramaiah ji after the landslide victory in Karnataka.” The party is yet to announce its decision on the next Karnataka CM.

Taking a dig at Congress over the delay in declaring the Chief Ministerial candidate, former Karnataka Home Minister Araga Jnanendra on Wednesday said, the fight for the CM post will continue for five years. “Congress party is a leisure party, for five years the fight for the post of chief minister will continue in the party. People of all caste communities are demanding the post of Chief Minister in the Congress party,” Jnanendra said. (ANI)

The police department in Bengaluru has started making preparations for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Karnataka Chief Minister, which is going to be at the Kanteerava stadium on Thursday.

Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday denied reports that Siddaramaiah was likely to be named Karnataka CM once again and said, “Deliberations on the Karnataka CM are still on, no decision has been taken. Don’t resort to speculation or planted news… A decision will be announced today or tomorrow and the cabinet will be in place within 72 hours.”

Several workers protested outside the Karnataka PCC office in Bengaluru on Wednesday in demand for a “Dalit CM” and pitched the Congress’ national president Mallikarjun Kharge into the ring. “As SC community has a larger population in the state, we want Mallikarjun Kharge to become the CM,” one of the protestors told news agency PTI.

KPCC president DK Shivakumar has been offered the Karnataka deputy chief minister post along with six other portfolios. He was seen leaving from Sonia Gandhi’s residence after meeting party leader Rahul Gandhi, and arrived at the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge shortly afterwards. 

Supporters of Congress leader DK Shivakumar gathered outside Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Delhi and held placards demanding chief ministership for the KPCC President. This comes after supporters of Siddaramaiah gathered outside his residence and poured milk over his posters.

BJP leader Dushyant Gautam on Wednesday hit out at the Congress party over the delay in announcmeent of the next Karnataka CM. “The Congress is wasting public’s time instead of working for them,” he said. (PTI)

Police officials on Wednesday inspected Bengaluru’s Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium, where the swearing-in ceremony of the new Karnataka government is likely to be held. (ANI)

The Supreme Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on CBI’s plea that challenged a Karnataka High Court order granting an interim stay on the probe into a disproportionate assets case against Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar to July 14.  (PTI)

BJP’s Dr K Sudhakar on Wednesday asked whether former CM Siddaramaiah could deny the fact that he had no “direct or indirect role” in fanning rebellion among Congress MLAs during the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition government.

“In 2018, whenever the MLAs went to Mr Siddaramaiah, who was the Chairman of the Coordination Committee, to complain about the injustice being done to us in the then JDS-Congress coalition government, he used to say that nothing is happening in this government, in my constituency, in my district,” Sudhakar tweeted in Kannada. (ANI)

As reports came in indicating that Siddaramaiah is likely to be named Karnataka CM once again, supporters of the Congress leader gathered outside his home in Bengaluru and poured milk over his poster, raising slogans. Visuals on local channels showed heavy celebrations as supporters burst crackers and danced on the streets. An official announcement is yet to be made by the Congress party on their decision.

Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah is the high command’s choice to be the next Karnataka CM, while his competitor DK Shivakumar will be offered the deputy CM post and other plum portfolios in the state cabinet, India Today reported on Wednesday. Siddaramaiah’s swearing-in is likely to take place on Thursday at 3:30 pm, and officials have already been asked to prepare the Kanteerava stadium for the ceremony, the publication added.

Basavaraj Bommai, outgoing Karnataka CM and senior BJP leader on Wednesday attacked the Congress party over the deliberation in announcement of the next Karnataka CM, saying, “Congress is yet to finalise its CM candidate in spite of getting a majority. This shows the internal situation in the party. The aspirations of people are more important than politicking. Congress should choose a CM as soon as possible.”

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday held back to back meetings with both Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah on Wednesday ahead of the party’s announcement of the next Karnataka CM. 

DK Shivakumar was seen arriving at Sonia Gandhi’s residence for a meeting with Rahul Gandhi shortly after his competitor Siddaramaiah returned to his hotel after his own meeting with the party leader. 

Congress stalwart Siddaramaiah was seen leaving after a meeting with senior party leader Rahul Gandhi ahead of the party’s announcement over the next Karnataka CM. Rahul Gandhi is also expected to meet the other top contender, DK Shivakumar, today.

Karnataka Congress working president Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday said the high command might decide the next Karnataka CM by today evening. “I met the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge and discussed the recent developments in Karnataka…Only high command will decide, we are 100% united; Decision may be by today evening,” he said. (ANI)

AICC spokesperson Pawan Khera hit out at the BJP and said the post of Leader of Opposition is equally important in every state, and sought to know when the BJP will appoint the LoP in Karnataka. “Appointing a Chief Minister is not an easy thing. It cannot be imposed from Delhi…Everybody’s view has to be taken into consideration. We have to engage with every stakeholder and then decide who the chief minister will be,” he said. (PTI)

Congress leader Siddaramaiah was seen arriving at 10, Janpath in Delhi to meet party leader Rahul Gandhi, who will also be meeting DK Shivakumar today ahead of announcing the decision over the next Karnataka CM. (ANI)

Congress stalwart and former CM Siddaramaiah was seen heading to a meeting with the party’s national president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, as the race to become the next Karnataka CM intensified. The leader remained tight-lipped and did not take any questions from reporters are he was leaving.

Congress MLA HC Balakrishna on Wednesday spoke to reporters where he extended support to Karnataka party chief DK Shivakumar amid an intense race between the latter and former CM Siddaramaiah to be named next Karnataka CM. “DK Shivakumar has done his job as the KPCC President and got Congress back to power. He should be made the chief minister,” he said. (PTI)

As the race to become Karnataka CM intensified, Dr G Parameshwara, who is a former deputy CM, said, “It’s natural for dalits voting for Congress to ask for representation. Everyone in the party high command knows me. If there’s a situation where Dr Parameshwara has to be made (CM), then they’ll make it. I won’t lobby.”

Dr G Parameshwara, Congress leader and former Karnataka Deputy CM on Wednesday said there is no controversy over the selection of the next Karnataka CM. “Let me clarify that there is no controversy in selection of the Karnataka CM. A procedure is being followed. The party high command is meeting the CM candidates and it will be finalised today or by tomorrow,” he said. (ANI)

The Congress hit out at the BJP for criticising it over the delay in finalising a name for the next chief minister of Karnataka, and cited examples when the BJP declared its CMs in Uttar Pradesh and Assam several days after winning the polls. 

AICC general secretary Jairam Ramesh tweeted that Yogi appointed CM 8 days after the 2017 UP Vidhan Sabha election results and that Himanta Biswa Sarma became CM 7 days after the 2021 Assam Vidhan Sabha election result.

Karnataka Congress Working President Eshwar Khandre on Wednesday said the party might announce its decision on the next Karnataka CM by evening today. “Maybe by today evening,” he said in response to media queries. (PTI)

Karnataka Congress working president Eshwar Khandre and other MLAs also arrived at party chief Kharge’s residence for meetings over the selection of the next Karnataka chief minister. Eshwar Khandre is a CM aspirant himself and a slew of meetings are slated for today before a decision is made.

Top contenders for Karnataka CM post – Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar – have both rejected the split tenure plan of the Congress’ high command, India Today reported. Earlier, it was reported that the leaders were offered a shared power plan – split between two and three years.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal on Tuesday arrived at the residence of UPA chairperson and party MP Sonia Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence in Delhi to hold discussions regarding the finalisation of the next Karnataka CM.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is likely to meet Karnataka party chief DK Shivakumar today at around 11 am, reports said. The Congress’ high command is also expected to offer a split tenure to the top two contenders, after holding hectic consultations on Tuesday. Another report said Rahul will also meet Siddaramaiah today.

Dr G Parameshwara, Congress leader and former Karnataka Deputy CM, threw himself in the ring as the race for the CM post in Karnataka raged on, saying, “If the Congress high command gives me the responsibility of the CM post, I will definitely fulfil it. They know everything about me and my work. I don’t want to lobby.”

Congress general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal spoke to reporters on Tuesday and said that a “good decision” will be made soon. “Decision will come, wait. Good decision will come. It will come as soon as possible,” Venugopal said. He was leaving from party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence in Delhi. (ANI)

Another round of meetings is slated to take place today with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge likely to meet UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, who is expected to reach Delhi from Himachal Pradesh. Kharge is also set to hold meetings with the central observers at 11 am today. 

It may be a few more days until the Congress leadership announces the next CM of Karnataka, India Today reported. Kharge is likely to come to a final decision after meeting with Sonia Gandhi today and a few more leaders from Karnataka later on. 

Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain said that consultations are still on at the national level amid the ongoing deliberations over the next Karnataka CM. “Both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah met the national president, discussed everything that happened in the election and gave him feedback. Consultations are still on at the national level. These will continue tomorrow. As soon as a decision is made, we will tell you,” Hussain said. (ANI)