Dilemma! Chief Minister-probables DK Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah, to meet Kharge in Delhi

Both frontrunners who had fought the election unitedly have not shied away from expressing their interest for the chair and are scheduled to meet the Congress high-command in Delhi later in the day.

Hyderabad: The Congress party will continue its deliberations to choose the next Chief Minister of Karnataka through second day, after its swept the state elections by mopping up 135 seats. The party is in a dilemma on choosing between the frontrunners-- DK Shivakumar and S Siddaramaiah-- to the top post.

Congress top brass will meet the duo in a meeting scheduled for later in the day in Delhi. The duo is likely to have separate meetings with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi.

Before meeting the contenders, Rahul will meet All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's residence to discuss the candidate choice. The party observers including AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and spokesperson Randeep Surjwala are expected to present the views of the legislators from the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meet.

On Sunday, the CLP met at a private hotel in Bengaluru and passed a unanimous resolution authorising Kharge to choose the next Chief Minister. "The Congress Legislature Party unanimously resolves that the AICC President is hereby authorised to appoint the new Leader of the Congress Legislature Party," the one-line resolution read.

The CLP was attended by Venugopal and three central observers who also held a meeting with the Leader of Opposition in the outgoing Assembly Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

The duo had been quite vocal about their desire for the Chief Minister's position. On Sunday, a poster war erupted in Bengaluru as followers of both leaders sparred in posters in support of their leaders and insisting the high-command to choose their leader for CM post.

On counting day, Siddaramaiah's son Yathindra spoke about his preference for his father for the top post. DK Suresh, a Congress MP, had said that he will be the happiest person if his elder brother Shivakumar becomes the Chief Minister.

Vokkaliga seers from Hariharapura Mutt paid a visit to Shivakumar's residence in Bengaluru and blessed him saying that he would be the next CM of Karnataka. The Congress party on Saturday won Karnataka in its most spectacular poll performance since 1999. The party won 135 seats with a vote share of 42.88 percent.