New Delhi: Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday said the party’s high command will take sometime on deciding on the chief minister of Karnataka. Speaking to the mediapersons ahead of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting, Kharge said, “CLP meeting will be held today and will hand over the report to the high command after which the high command will take its time to declare the name of the Chief Minister.”
After the grand old party registered a thumping victory in the southern state, all focus has shifted on who will become the chief minister. According to sources, the Congress is working out a formula to split the tenure of the Chief Minister between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. While Siddaramiah, a mass leader, may be made the CM for the first 2.5 years, DK Shivakumar will be handed the responsibility for the next 2.5 years.
Speaking to ANI, Karnataka Congress working president Ramalinga Reddy said, "In every party, ambitions will be there. Not only DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah even MB Patil and G Parameshwara are also interested. Only one will become CM and the party's high command and MLAs will decide that."
Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told PTI, "The elected members will choose their leader (chief minister) in the meeting (CLP meet). This has been a tradition and rule in the Congress."
Meanwhile, Kharge appointed three observers, including Maharashtra former chief minister Sushilkumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria, for the election of the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader.
Taking to Twitter, AICC general secretary, organisation, KC Venugopal, wrote, “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.”