After four days of intense negotiations, the Congress party is set to announce Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, with DK Shivakumar as his deputy, according to sources. The official announcement will be made at the Congress Legislative Party meeting in Bengaluru later in the evening, and the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
Sources have revealed that Siddaramaiah will be elected as the Congress Legislative Party leader, and discussions regarding the formation of the cabinet are nearly finalized. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge worked through the night to find a solution and ensure a smooth transition of power.
The decision for DK Shivakumar to accept the position of Deputy Chief Minister reportedly came after an intervention by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Sources close to Shivakumar stated that he agreed to take the “Number 2” position as a sacrifice in the interest of the party.
However, DK Suresh, Congress MP and Shivakumar’s brother expressed their dissatisfaction with the decision, stating, “My brother wanted to be Chief Minister. We are not happy with this decision.”
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are scheduled to meet Congress general secretary KC Venugopal. This will be their first meeting since the tussle for the Chief Minister post began, indicating a potential reconciliation between the two leaders.
Earlier discussions held in Delhi between Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and Shivakumar had offered two options to Shivakumar, but both were turned down. The first option included the post of the state’s single Deputy Chief Minister, along with his current role as the head of the state party unit. Additionally, Shivakumar was offered six ministries of his choice. The second option proposed power-sharing between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, with Siddaramaiah taking the top post for two years, followed by Shivakumar for three years. However, neither leader was willing to take the secondary position.
It remains unclear whether a final decision on the rotational Chief Ministership has been reached. The power-sharing arrangement is said to depend on the Congress’s performance in the general election next year. The failure to find a mutually agreeable solution could have consequences for Congress in the upcoming national election.
Shivakumar, while ruling out any rebellion, has emphasized his commitment to the party and unity among its members. He stated, “If the party wants, they can give me the responsibility… Ours is a united house. I don’t want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab, and I will not blackmail.”
The Congress party is aware of the importance of maintaining unity and securing the support of various influential groups in Karnataka. Shivakumar has a following among the politically significant Vokkaligas, while Siddaramaiah enjoys the support of the AHINDA platform, which comprises minorities, Other Backward Classes, and Dalits.
As the final decisions are made and the leadership transition takes place, the Congress party will be closely observed to see how the power-sharing arrangement unfolds and its potential impact on the upcoming general election.
