Siddaramaiah, the former Chief Minister of Karnataka, and DK Shivakumar, a prominent Congress leader, received a warm welcome in Bengaluru as they arrived after a breakthrough in their political negotiations. The two leaders attended a legislature party meeting where a formal election took place and later met with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot to stake their claim to form the government. The oath ceremony for the new Chief Minister is scheduled for May 20 at 12:30 PM.
According to sources, there is a tentative understanding of a 50:50 power-sharing arrangement, which would allow DK Shivakumar to succeed Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister halfway through the term. However, this arrangement is contingent on the Congress’s performance in the upcoming general election in Karnataka, which has 28 parliamentary seats and is considered a crucial battleground state.
Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are expected to be in Delhi to discuss cabinet appointments with the national leadership of the Congress party. The five-day impasse over the Chief Minister position was resolved with the intervention of former Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who persuaded Shivakumar to accept the position of Deputy Chief Minister under Siddaramaiah. In addition to being Deputy Chief Minister, Shivakumar will have control over the party and will be able to choose six ministries.
Shivakumar, who initially insisted on being the Chief Minister, ultimately agreed to “sacrifice for the party.” In an interview, he stated that the decision was left to the party’s high command and that he had to prioritize the party’s interest over personal ambition. When asked about Sonia Gandhi’s role in his decision, he refrained from directly mentioning her and stated that he had met with Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, and AICC office bearers.
However, DK Suresh, Congress MP and Shivakumar’s brother expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, stating that they were “not happy” with it as Shivakumar had aspired to become the Chief Minister.
The Congress party has dismissed BJP’s allegations of chaos within the party, emphasizing their commitment to consensus rather than dictatorship. The BJP’s Basavaraj Bommai had criticized the Congress for the public deadlock over the Chief Minister position, claiming it indicated a lack of unity within the party.
The question of Chief Ministership and party cohesion is crucial for the Congress as they prepare for the upcoming general elections. Shivakumar has a strong following among the Vokkaliga community, which holds significant political influence, while Siddaramaiah has the support of the AHINDA platform, a social coalition of minorities, Other Backward Classes, and Dalits that has traditionally supported the Congress.
