AICC chief to choose next Karnataka CM: CLP meeting passes one-line resolution

Despite huge competition for the CM chair, Congress Karnataka leaders broadly agreed not to precipitate matters to the level of forcing a secret ballot. The main race is between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar with speculation also rife that the former may rule for the first two years and the latter next three years.

Bengaluru (Karnataka): In a major development in the ongoing stalemate over who will be the next Karnataka Chief Minister, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has unanimously decided to leave the selection of the Congress Legislature Party leader to the decision of the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Congress scored a thumping win in the May 10 Assembly polls as it secured 135 seats out of 224, while the BJP bagged only 66. The CLP passed a single-line resolution during a meeting held in a hotel in Bengaluru on Sunday. "The Congress Legislature Party unanimously resolves that AICC President is hereby authorised to appoint the new Leader of the Congress Legislature Party," read the resolution. All newly elected Congress MLAs in Karnataka attended the meeting to discuss government formation.

CLP meeting passes one-line resolution

Speaking about what transpired in the meeting, Randeep Singh Surjewala AICC in-charge of Karnataka, told media: "Siddaramaiah moved the single-line resolution authorising AICC president to appoint a new leader of CLP party and 135 Cong MLAs proceeded to unanimously approve his resolution. It was endorsed by DK Shivakumar as well. Congress Gen Secy KC Venugopal informed Kharge about the resolutions and Kharge then instructed KC Venugopal that the three senior observers must take individual opinions of each legislature and convey them to the high command."

Congress General Secy KC Venugopal said the process of "taking the opinion of the MLAs will be completed tonight itself". "As Randeep Singh Surjewala said, this is a unanimous resolution moved by Siddaramaiah and supported by DK Shivakumar and all the senior leaders..." Venugopal said after the CLP meeting.

Earlier in the day, the Congress appointed three central observers, including senior leader Sushil Kumar Shinde, ahead of its crucial legislature party meeting in Karnataka to elect the new chief minister, amid hectic lobbying for the top post. The meeting began after key leaders arrived at Bengaluru's Shangri-La Hotel. Besides Shinde, a former chief minister of Maharashtra, the other observers are party general secretary Jitendra Singh and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria.

AICC general secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said the central observers would oversee the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting. "Hon'ble Congress President has deputed Shri.Sushilkumar Shinde (Former Chief Minister, Maharashtra), Shri.Jitendra Singh (AICC GS) and Shri.Deepak Babaria (former AICC GS) as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka," he tweeted.

Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar are strong claimants and front-runners for the coveted post.

Earlier while speaking about the CLP meeting, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge told media in Delhi: "Our observers have gone to Bengaluru, there will be a CLP meeting once they reach. After the CLP meet, they will share their opinion with the high command, and then they (high command) will send their decision from here".

All 135 MLAs of Congress attended the meeting. Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah, KPCC President D K Shivakumar, AICC National President Mallikarjuna Kharge, Congress Campaign Committee President M B Patil, Manifesto Committee President Dr G Parameshwar, Senior MLAs RV Deshpande, H K Patil, former KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao, senior Lingayat leader Shamanur Sivashankarappa among others are in the Chief Minister race, sources said. It is almost certain that either Siddaramaiah or D K Shivakumar will be the Chief Minister.

According to sources, Siddaramaiah will continue as Chief Minister for the first two years. KPCC president D K Shivakumar will serve as CM for the next three years. There is information that the assembly elections of 2028 will be held under the leadership of D K Shivakumar. The new chief minister elected in the legislature party meeting will take oath as the chief minister of Karnataka tomorrow.