Congress MLAs empower Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the next Karnataka CM in CLP meet

The 135 newly-elected Congress MLAs met in Bengaluru on Sunday evening and passed a one-line resolution authorising Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). The resolution came amidst sloganeering by supporters of Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah who had gathered outside the hotel where the MLAs were in a meeting to select the CLP leader, who will also become the next CM of Karnataka. Kharge will hold discussions with top party leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Congress observers to hand over report from Karnataka to party president Mallikarjun Kharge

The three central observers deputed by Congress came back to Delhi after speaking individually to the newly elected MLAs in Karnataka on who should be the next chief minister of Karnataka. They will hand over a report on the views expressed by the majority of the legislators to party president Mallikarjun Kharge later today. Former Maharashtra CM Sushilkumar Shinde, party general secretary Jitendra Singh, and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria were sent as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka.

Vokkaliga pontiff and Lingayat seer back Shivakumar

The Vokkaliga pontiff of Adi Chunchanagiri Nirmalananda Natha Swamy appealed to the Congress high command late Sunday, in favour of DK Shivakumar becoming the next CM of Karnataka. Vachananda Swami, a Lingayat seer, also said that Shivakumar would be an apt candidate for the post.

Siddaramaiah arrives in Delhi, Shivakumar to reach later tonight

Amidst the speculation surrounding Congress high command decision on the Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah arrived in the national capital where he is likely to meet top party leaders. On the other hand, DK Shivakumar said he will travel to Delhi later in the evening.

Who are Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar?

It was DK Shivakumar's heads-down approach to tactics and strategy that largely paid off for the Congress in the recent Assembly polls. Shivakumar is also believed to have been at the heart of making decisions such as dissuading Siddaramaiah from contesting in two seats and picking several candidates against the preferences of other leaders. Siddaramaiah, an eight-time MLA and a mass leader with support spread across constituencies in Karnataka, has struggled in recent times to find a safe seat for himself, where rivalries between Kurubas (the community he belongs to) and communities such as Vokkaligas, tribal Valmikis, and Dalits do not boost his prospects. He had earlier been the CM from 2013 to 2018.

Karnataka CM race latest updates: D K Shivakumar or Siddaramaiah? Whom will Kharge favour?

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah are the front-runners for the CM position after the party's victory in the state Assembly elections.

By: Express Web Desk

Bengaluru | Updated: May 15, 2023 06:47 PM IST

1 min read

karnataka cm race siddaramaiah dk shivakumar

The Congress high command is likely to take a call today on who will be the next CM of Karnataka: Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar. (PTI)

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Ever since Congress won the Karnataka Assembly elections with a resounding mandate, all eyes have been on who will be the next Chief Minister of the state.

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar and former CM Siddaramaiah are the front-runners in the race, with their supporters lobbying intensely for their respective leaders.

With the party’s top brass likely to arrive at a decision today, here is what you should know:

01
Congress MLAs empower Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the next Karnataka CM in CLP meet
The 135 newly-elected Congress MLAs met in Bengaluru on Sunday evening and passed a one-line resolution authorising Mallikarjun Kharge to choose the leader of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP). The resolution came amidst sloganeering by supporters of Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah who had gathered outside the hotel where the MLAs were in a meeting to select the CLP leader, who will also become the next CM of Karnataka. Kharge will hold discussions with top party leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
02
Congress observers to hand over report from Karnataka to party president Mallikarjun Kharge
The three central observers deputed by Congress came back to Delhi after speaking individually to the newly elected MLAs in Karnataka on who should be the next chief minister of Karnataka. They will hand over a report on the views expressed by the majority of the legislators to party president Mallikarjun Kharge later today. Former Maharashtra CM Sushilkumar Shinde, party general secretary Jitendra Singh, and former AICC general secretary Deepak Babaria were sent as observers for the election of the CLP Leader of Karnataka.
03
Vokkaliga pontiff and Lingayat seer back Shivakumar
The Vokkaliga pontiff of Adi Chunchanagiri Nirmalananda Natha Swamy appealed to the Congress high command late Sunday, in favour of DK Shivakumar becoming the next CM of Karnataka. Vachananda Swami, a Lingayat seer, also said that Shivakumar would be an apt candidate for the post.
04
Siddaramaiah arrives in Delhi, Shivakumar to reach later tonight
Amidst the speculation surrounding Congress high command decision on the Karnataka CM, Siddaramaiah arrived in the national capital where he is likely to meet top party leaders. On the other hand, DK Shivakumar said he will travel to Delhi later in the evening.
05
Who are Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar?
It was DK Shivakumar's heads-down approach to tactics and strategy that largely paid off for the Congress in the recent Assembly polls. Shivakumar is also believed to have been at the heart of making decisions such as dissuading Siddaramaiah from contesting in two seats and picking several candidates against the preferences of other leaders.

Siddaramaiah, an eight-time MLA and a mass leader with support spread across constituencies in Karnataka, has struggled in recent times to find a safe seat for himself, where rivalries between Kurubas (the community he belongs to) and communities such as Vokkaligas, tribal Valmikis, and Dalits do not boost his prospects. He had earlier been the CM from 2013 to 2018.