Siddaramaiah likely to be Karnataka CM but announcement on hold as DKS toughens stand

The day witnessed a series of meetings where different formulas were thrown up like 3 Deputy CMs from Lingayat, Dalit and Muslim communities

Lack of “consensus, unanimity and unity” among leaders is holding up an announcement of Karnataka Chief Minister’s name on Wednesday even as Congress leadership zeroed in on Siddaramaiah while an unrelenting DK Shivakumar dug his heels in.

Several proposals were put before the warring leaders by Congress leadership, including president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, but the Karnataka leaders remained adamant on their wishlist while countering the claims of the rival.

During the meetings with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, the leaders put forward the proposal of rotational Chief Ministers and three Deputy Chief Ministers from Lingayat, Muslim and Dalit communities. However, sources said, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar remained adamant on full term.

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This led to further impasse even as the leadership was hoping to close the negotiations and announce the deal. However, the central leadership is in a bind on Shivakumar’s demand for a public announcement in case they go ahead with the rotational Chief Minister proposal.

In between the meetings, preparations started for swearing in at Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru started while a “fake” draft of an invite started doing rounds in social media.

This riled up Shivakumar who complained to Kharge following which Congress General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge addressed media to rubbish rumours and announced that a decision on Chief Minister would come by Thursday and a cabinet would be in place within 48-72 hours.

"Do not resort to any speculation, whenever a decision is taken by the Congress president, we will be happy to inform you. I am only here to quash multiple rumours and hearsay...that are being played on multiple news channels. Please don't believe in it," Surjewala told reporters.

Shivakumar also termed as “bogus” reports about the leadership favouring Siddaramaiah even as he rejected the proposal to become Deputy Chief Minister under his inner-party rival.

Sources said the leadership was also not happy with Siddaramaiah, as preparations were started for the swearing in ceremony on Thursday. The central leadership felt such a move was unwarranted as the announcement was not made and they needed more time to invite top Opposition leaders for the function.

Indicating that the decision may be delayed for another day, both Siddaramaiah, who was planning to leave Delhi on Thursday at 3.30 PM, and Shivakumar are staying in the capital.

Multiple rumours and speculation are being spread and whenever a decision is taken, it will be announced, Surjewala said, highlighting that Kharge is a leader who goes by “consensus, unanimity and unity”, which the leaders appear to be lacking on finding a close to the political drama.

Siddaramiah and Shivakumar had separate meetings with Rahul Gandhi while Shivakumar and a number of MLAs met Kharge separately during the day. Shivakumar told reporters that all news about a decision on Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister was “not true”.

Amid claims and counterclaims, sources said former Congress president Sonia Gandhi also spoke to Shivakumar and urged him to take up the post of Deputy Chief Minister. Sonia told him that the party values his contribution and he could be the Chief Minister in the second half of the five year term.

However, sources said, he politely declined the offer following which she asked him to continue as Congress Karnataka President. Sources said in case three Deputy Chief Ministers are named, the front runners are MB Patil (Lingayat), G Parameshwara (Dalit) and UT Khader (Muslim) were considered the front-runners for the post.

The Karnataka veterans also held intense meetings with their supporters during the day.