Bengaluru: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) Saturday unanimously elected DK Shivakumar as its leader, bringing the 64-year-old within inches of his long-cherished desire to become the chief minister of Karnataka. He is set to take oath on 3 June at 4.05 pm.
In a one-line resolution, the CLP officially backed Shivakumar’s candidature to replace Siddaramaiah, drawing the curtain on a long-drawn political battle that threatened to disrupt the fragile peace in the Karnataka Congress.
“DK Shivakumar has been elected as the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party,” the Congress party announced in a statement.
Siddaramaiah proposed Shivakumar’s name, and G. Parameshwara approved it, according to the statement.
The decision will now be formalised by the Congress’s central leadership. “CM Siddaramaiah moved a one-line resolution that the matter of selecting the new leader of the Legislature Party has been left to the discretion of the AICC,” according to the statement.
K.C.Venugopal, the General Secretary (Organisation) of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), said the party high command had suggested that Shivakumar be elected the CLP and the chief minister of Karnataka.
“I am very glad to say that everybody thought that this transition was going to be a trouble for (the) Congress party. Everybody anticipated that. You (media) people also thought that there would be a big shake in the Congress party… (but) Siddaramaiah’s decision showed that there was no trouble or crisis as predicted by everyone,” Venugopal said.
Following the meeting, Shivakumar met Karnataka Governor Thawaarchand Gehlot and presented the letter of support, and staked a claim to form the government.
The governor invited the CLP leader for a swearing-in. He is expected to take an oath around 4.05 pm on Wednesday on the Lok Bhavan premises.
Shivakumar, people aware of the developments said, is not keen on a big swearing-in ceremony as it would invite criticism of extravagance during difficult times.
Other than Venugopal, General Secretary in charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala, and senior leader Jairam Ramesh also attended the CLP in Bengaluru
The CLP decision marks the culmination of months of uncertainty in Karnataka that threatened to turn into a full-blown crisis, with Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar and their respective support bases locking horns over the leadership crisis.
However, Siddaramaiah’s decision to step down without resistance or protest at the high command’s orders, has raised hopes of a smooth transition in a state synonymous with political volatility.
Cabinet struggles begin
Events post Siddaramaiah’s resignation have reignited hectic lobbying for cabinet berths and other positions in the new government.
Several Congress legislators have reached out to the party high command and have been camping in Delhi and at the homes of senior leaders to make their respective cases.
M.C.Sudhakar, the former minister in Siddaramaiah’s cabinet, said that there are several aspirants to limited posts and that the high command will take a final decision.
At least three senior Congress leaders, now former ministers, told ThePrint that most of them have been relying on information in the press as the central leadership has not reached out to any one of them in the state.
There is also no clarity if there will be any deputy chief ministers under Shivakumar.
The Dy CM theory has been floating around with reasons like getting caste balance and placating senior leaders who were overlooked for the top chair, attributed to it.
“Today’s agenda is the election of the CLP leader. Everything else will be decided later,” senior Congress leader B.K.Hariprasad told reporters earlier in the day. On a possible change within the party organisation, Hariprasad said that it will be decided later.
Siddaramaiah praised, invited for ‘national’ role
During the CLP meeting, Shivakumar also moved a resolution congratulating and thanking Siddaramaiah for the eight years he served as chief minister. This, Venugopal said, demonstrated the camaraderie between the two leaders.
Siddaramaiah also spent some time reflecting on his tenure, how he managed finances and kept up welfare despite reduced inflow of funds from the centre, a Congress leader said, requesting anonymity.
Heaping praise on Siddaramaiah, Venugopal asked the 77-year-old to lend his services at the national level as well.
“Your services will not just be utilised at the state level but also at the national level,” Venugopal is said to have told Siddaramaiah, according to the Congress leader cited above.
Venugopal also told the CLP that they should not limit their goal to retain power in 2028 but continue the momentum into the Lok Sabha elections as well.
The Congress leader said that the CLP should work hard to make Rahul Gandhi the prime minister in 2029.
This is an updated version of the report
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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