The stage is set for the Congress Legislature Party meeting here on Sunday evening to elect a new leader. According to sources, the new Chief Minister is likely to take oath on Monday.
The meeting would be held at a private hotel and all newly elected 135 Congress MLAs will participate and elect their leader. The high command is going to take a call and announce the candidate for the post of CM. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, state President D.K. Shivakumar, senior leaders M.B. Patil, Shamanur Shivashankarappa, Dr. G. Parameshwara, R.V. Deshapande, H.K. Patil are in the race for the CM's post.
Though party President Mallikarjun Kharge has clarified that he is not interested in the post, sources claimed that anything can happen. Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are in the forefront for the post.
Sources also said that Siddaramaiah would be given a chance for the first two years and Shivakumar would be the CM for the next three years. The party is considering going to the 2028 elections under Shivakumar's leadership.
Shinde, Jitendra Singh & Babaria observers for CLP election
With crucial meeting of CLP in Karnataka scheduled on Sunday evening, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has deputed former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and two other party leaders as observers for the election of CLP in the southern state.
K.C. Venugopal, Congress General Secretary (Organisation) took to Twitter and wrote, "Congress President has deputed Sushil kumar Shinde (Former Chief Minister, Maharashtra), Jitendra Singh (AICC GS) and Deepak Babaria (former AICC GS) as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka."
Meanwhile, Kharge, who had camped in Karnataka for almost a month for the crucial Assembly polls is returning to the national capital ahead of the CLP meeting scheduled later in the evening at Shangrila Hotel in Bengaluru.
The Congress is facing a daunting task in selecting the person for the chief minister's post as both senior leaders -- former CM Siddaramaiah and state unit chief D.K. Shivakumar -- have shown interest for the top post in the state.
The Congress had won 135 seats in the southern state, winning 55 more seats than 80 it got in the 2017 Assembly polls.
Counting of votes took place on Saturday after the polling for the 224-member Assembly took place on May 10.
(With inputs from IANS)
