BENGALURU: Congress has announced Siddaramaiah as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka thus ending days of uncertainty. DK Shivakumar will be the deputy Chief Minister. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge announced the decision after several days of discussion with the high command.
The oath taking ceremony will be held on Saturday. The party has called a Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting in Bengaluru on Thurday at 7 pm. DK Shivakumar has directed all MLAs to attend the meeting. The decision has ended the political deadlock prevailed in Karnataka over the next Chief Minister.
The swearing-in ceremony was supposed to be held today evening but it was postponed as the leaders failed to arrive at a consensus. The discussions lasted for several days and at one point DK Shivakumar had decided that he won’t be part of the cabinet. This stance of Shivakumar has forced Congress’ Karnataka-in-charge Randeep Surjewala to stop the preparations for the oath taking ceremony at the stadium.
It is reported that he Congress high command was interested in giving the first term to Siddaramaiah as they feared that making DK Shivakumar as CM would adversely affect the party because he is under radar of central agencies for money laundering.
As per reports, DK Shivakumar will be given six portfolios in the cabinet. According to sources, DK Shivakumar will remain the PCC president and a term-rotating formula between him and Siddaramaiah has also been agreed upon. Siddaramaiah will not be the Chief Minister for the entire term of five years, however the Congress hasn’t decided on any handover plans as of now. It is most likely that the reins will be handed over to DKS after 2.5 years.
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