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New Delhi: After the announcement of the results of the assembly elections in Karnataka on Saturday, the ongoing tussle over the chief ministerial post in the Congress has ended in six days. After a long series of meetings between the Congress high command, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar in Delhi, it was finally decided to make Siddaramaiah the Chief Minister with a clean image and DK Shivakumar the Deputy Chief Minister. The Congress announced on Thursday morning that Siddaramaiah has been elected Chief Minister and DK Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister and the swearing-in ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 20 at 12.30 pm in Bengaluru.
The Congress on Thursday announced that Siddaramaiah will be the new chief minister in the newly formed cabinet in Karnataka and Congress state president DK Shivakumar will be the sole deputy chief minister. With this, the Congress has put an end to the speculations of having more than one Deputy Chief Minister in the state. Around 20 ministers along with two top leaders will take oath on Saturday, May 20, sources said. Chief Ministers of other Congress-ruled states and many top opposition leaders including Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, NCP President Sharad Pawar have been invited to this function.
Besides, a Congress MLA meeting was held in Bengaluru on Thursday evening to apprise the Karnataka Congress MLAs of the High Command’s decision. In this meeting, Siddaramaiah’s name was approved as the head of the Congress Legislature. In the meeting, RV Deshpande, HK Patil, MB Patil and Lakshmi Hebbalkar proposed Siddaramaiah’s name. After being elected as the party chief, Siddaramaiah claimed to form the government before the Governor.
Sources said that Shivakumar will continue as the state president along with the post of deputy chief minister. He will hold the post till next year’s Lok Sabha elections. Congress general secretary (organization) KC Venugopal and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewal said that the Congress is committed to fulfill the five promises made during the elections and efforts will be made to implement them from the first cabinet meeting itself. He said that the victory in Karnataka is a joint victory.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress President DK Shivakumar said, ‘I have accepted the post of Deputy Chief Minister keeping in mind the larger interest of the Congress. Lok Sabha elections are to be held next year. That is why I agree with the formula suggested by former party president and senior leader Sonia Gandhi. Ultimately we have a responsibility towards the people of Karnataka. We have to fulfill the election promises at the earliest.
Earlier, the first meeting of the Congress Legislative Council was held on Sunday after the election results were declared in Karnataka on Saturday, in which the decision of the chief minister’s post was left to the high command. Siddaramaiah met Siddaramaiah, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and party president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi from Monday and submitted his candidature for the post of chief minister. On the other hand, Shivakumar also reached Delhi on Tuesday and he also filed the suit. After wrangling over the chief ministership for nearly three days, the high command finally managed to convince Shivakumar.
Sources said Rahul Gandhi had persuaded Shivakumar not to create unnecessary controversies for the chief ministerial post, saying Siddaramaiah was senior. He was the chief minister once. He has administrative experience and also a clean image. Apart from this, the effect of the party’s victory in Karnataka will also be seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. That is why you are now holding the post of Deputy Chief Minister. You will also be given important accounts and important ministries will be entrusted to your patrons. Apart from this, the high command also conducted a secret ballot, in which most of the MLAs voted in favor of Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah attacked DK Sivakumar
Siddaramaiah projects a clean image, administrative experience, recognized leader
Shivakumar was fighting corruption cases, image of a social leader, lack of administrative skills
81-year-old senior leader Siddaramaiah has lost the chief ministerial race in Karnataka after the results of the assembly elections were declared. After nearly four days of deadlock, the Congress high command has announced Siddaramaiah’s name as the Chief Minister. Siddaramaiah’s clean image helped him return to the CM’s chair, while Shivakumar escaped corruption cases.
After the landslide victory of the Congress in the Karnataka assembly elections, strong contenders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar were called to Delhi for the Chief Ministerial election. Where Siddaramaiah’s name was finally crowned after four days of long meetings. The 81-year-old Siddaramaiah is one of the tallest leaders of the Karnataka Congress. Siddaramaiah belongs to the Kurba community (OBC). His selection is seen as breaking the BJP’s OBC card. There is no better face than Siddaramaiah in the state to garner OBC votes for the Congress in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
On the other hand, although Siddaramaiah belongs to the Kurba community, he also has a popular base among Dalits, minorities and tribal communities. As Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018, his schemes for the poor made him an accepted leader of every society. Siddaramaiah contested 12 elections in his political career, out of which he won 9. Earlier as Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah had governed very well and is only the third leader to complete a five-year tenure in the state. His image as a clean leader in the state is very strong. Along with this, in view of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress is also challenged to fulfill its electoral promises soon. These factors propelled Siddaramaiah in the Chief Ministerial race.
Meanwhile, the main reason behind DK Sivakumar’s retreat is the corruption cases against him. There are 19 corruption cases against Shivakumar, some of which are being investigated by central agencies like CBI, ED and IT department. Besides, Sivakumar Vokkaliga’s image is that of a community and regional leader. Apart from this, Shivakumar is the richest MLA. He has Rs. 1214 crores in assets while Siddaramaiah is considered a grassroots leader. Shivakumar also lags behind in the number of MLAs game. A secret ballot of MLAs was conducted in the Congress MLA meeting, in which Siddaramaiah is believed to have won more votes.