Politics

Karnataka power tussle: Siddaramaiah to become CM; Shivakumar settles on Dy CM post

Siddaramaiah is scheduled to meet party general secretary K.C. Venugopal before leaving for Bengaluru

May 18, 2023

Accepted decision in larger interest of party, says Shivakumar

After a lot of negotiations going on for days after the Karnataka election results were out, it seems finally the power tussle within the party is over, with state Congress chief D K Shivakumar settling down with the post of Deputy CM.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge ended the suspense over Karnataka Chief Minister by picking Siddaramaiah for the top post with Shivakumar as his deputy. Both the leaders were vying for the top post.

However, Shivakumar’s brother and MP from Bengaluru Rural, D K Suresh said he was “not fully happy” with the turn of events. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Suresh stated that in the interest of Karnataka and the commitments and promises made to the Kannada people, Shivakumar has to accept the party’s decision.

“As a party we want to fulfil the promises made. In the future, let’s see, there is a long way to go. I wished that my brother would become the Chief Minister, but it didn’t happen. We will wait and see,” he stated.

Speaking to the media at the residence of party general secretary K C Venugopal, Shivakumar said, “The party high command has taken a decision and I have accepted the decision in the larger interest of the party.”

Siddaramaiah is scheduled to meet Venugopal before leaving for Bengaluru, where the CLP meeting has been called on Thursday evening to make the announcement.

Meanwhile, the All India Veerashaiva Mahasabha wrote to the Congress high command demanding the coveted post for the community. In its letter addressed to AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, the Mahasabha said that their demand has to be considered as 34 elected MLAs from the Congress are Lingayats. “The community has played a major role in electing MLAs in other 50 seats. The community has shifted its loyalty from BJP to Congress,” the letter read.

Congress won 135 out of 224 seats in the May 10 polling, followed by the BJP with 66 and JD(S) 18 seats.

[With Inputs from IANS]

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