Siddaramaiah to be Karnataka CM: Sources

Hyderabad: Siddaramaiah is likely to be the next chief minister of Karnataka. According to the sources, Congress highcommand has finally decided to make him the new CM of the State, while DK Shivakumar will be the deputy CM.

The swearing-in ceremony may happen Thursday evening. Reportedly, Siddaramaiah will take oath alone. Congress legislator party meeting will be called today (May 18) at Kanteerava Stadium around 3.30 pm. Shivakumar is likely to be offered plum portfolios along with the Deputy CM post. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) Women’s Wing President Pushpa Amarnath claimed on Wednesday that Siddaramaiah’s name has been finalised for the post of Chief Minister.

Talking to media here, Amarnath stated that it was confirmed that Siddaramaiah’s name has been finalised for the post, and it is going to be announced officially in a short time.

“Rahul Gandhiji had spoken to Siddaramaiah. It is confirmed that he will become the CM. We have conveyed our wishes to Siddaramaiah,” she said. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar played a significant role in the Congress's emphatic win in the recently held Assembly election in Karnataka in which the party won 135 of the 224 assembly seats, and ousted the BJP from power. Both of them met the party's top leadership in New Delhi on Tuesday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi along with Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting as the party was set to announce the next Karnataka CM. Congress General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala was also present at the meeting.

Surjewala asserted that Karnataka will have a five-year-long stable government and urged people not to believe in speculation and "fake news" which it alleged was being peddled by the BJP. Siddaramaiah is considered the front-runner among the two while Shivakumar is seen taking a strong position, claiming that the assembly polls were won under him as state party chief and that he has worked hard for ensuring this victory.

Addressing the media outside Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's 10 Rajaji Marg residence where hectic parleys are on to decide on the party's chief ministerial pick Surjewala said the party chief has been authorised to appoint the leader of the legislature party and that is why deliberations are underway.

"Do not resort to any speculation, whenever a decision is taken by the Congress president, we will be happy to inform you. I am only here to quash multiple rumours and hearsay that are being played on multiple news channels. Please don't believe in it," Surjewala told reporters.