New Delhi: Who will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka? This is the burning question that kept everyone on the edge of their seats on Wednesday. State Congress chief DK Shivakumar held discussions with party leaders and their supporters at the residence of his brother-party MP DK Suresh here. Earlier on Wednesday, DK Shivakumar met party leader Rahul Gandhi in the national capital even as the party has so far refrained from making any official announcement on who will be the next CM of Karnataka. Earlier today, Shivakumar reached the house of Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge after a long meeting. The KPCC chief did not respond to media queries. He is scheduled to meet Kharge and Rahul Gandhi later this evening.
Meanwhile, another top CM contender Siddaramaiah, a former CM and a popular figure, also had a cordial meeting with Gandhi in Delhi on Wednesday.
Delhi | Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar held discussions with party leaders and their supporters at the residence of his brother-in-law, MP DK Suresh. pic.twitter.com/oBEEnqCbSB– ANI (@ANI) May 17, 2023
The official media handle of Congress shared pictures of Rahul Gandhi with the two leaders
Calling Gandhi a “jannayak” – leader of the people – the Congress tweeted, “Rahul Gandhi ji met DK Shivakumar ji and Siddaramaiah ji after the landslide victory in Karnataka.”
People’s leader after massive victory in Karnataka @RahulGandhi from g @DKShivakumar Yes and @siddaramaiah Ji met. pic.twitter.com/rMmMAduxfe— Congress (@INCIndia) May 17, 2023
Karnataka’s next CM will be announced today or tomorrow: Surjewala
Earlier, Congress’ Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala said that the decision regarding the next Chief Minister of Karnataka would be announced today or tomorrow and the new cabinet would be formed within 72 hours. Surjewala also dismissed speculations that Siddaramaiah could be nominated as the Chief Minister once again.
He told reporters, “Currently the deliberations are being held by party president Mallikarjun Kharge. We will inform you whenever the Congress takes a decision. In the next 48-72 hours, we will have a new cabinet in Karnataka.”
The Congress leader said consultations are still on and urged the media not to report on speculation or pay heed to fake information. Four days after the Congress wrested power from the Bharatiya Janata Party and registered a landslide victory in the assembly elections, the state is yet to find a chief minister. Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah’s supporters were seen bursting crackers in Bengaluru.
After registering an emphatic victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls, the Congress Legislature Party on Sunday late evening met in Bengaluru and passed a one-line resolution empowering Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to elect the Legislature Party chief.
The Congress had emerged as the single largest party in Karnataka after winning the assembly elections held on 10 May. It won 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka Legislative Assembly.