Karnataka Logjam Ends, Congress Announces Siddaramaiah As CM, Shivakumar Dy CM. Swearing-In On May 20

Siddaramaiah has been named as the next chief minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar is set to be his deputy.

Siddaramaiah has been named as the next chief minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar is set to be his deputy.

After a series of meetings held by the Congress, party leader Siddaramaiah has been named as the next chief minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar is set to be his deputy. The grand old party arrived at a consensus on government formation in the state after five days of hectic parleys. The swearing-in ceremony will be held in Bengaluru on May 20 around noon. Announcing the details, Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said that the grand old party will invite people from like-minded parties to take part in the ceremony.

"We will invite people from like-minded parties to take part in the swearing-in ceremony in Karnataka," KC Venugopal said. Siddaramaiah will be the next chief minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar will be his deputy. Congress will  

Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar together met Kharge after the consensus on government formation was reached. Congress president Kharge also tweeted a picture of him flanked by Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Kharge is seen raising the hands of both leaders to signal a consensus.

"Team Congress is committed to usher progress, welfare and social justice for the people of Karnataka. We will implement the 5 guarantees promised to 6.5 Cr Kannadigas," Kharge said on Twitter. The Congress also tweeted the picture, and said, "stronger together".

Sharing the picture on Twitter,AICC general secretary in-charge of state Randeep Surjewala said, "The winning team." A Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting has been called by Shivakumar, the party's state unit chief, in Bengaluru on Thursday evening. The decision will be announced there.

The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief has written to all legislators, asking them to attend the meeting of the newly-elected MLAs, MLCs and MPs at the Indira Gandhi Bhavan on Queen's Road at 7 pm. Shivakumar said he decided to make the "sacrifice" and agreed to be deputy chief minister in the interest of the party, PTI reported citing sources. The party leadership has also decided to have around 20-25 new ministers, sources said.

Earlier, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar also held a breakfast meeting with Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal and Surjewala, together. Hectic parleys were held on Wednesday to break the deadlock in deciding on the Congress' chief ministerial pick in Karnataka with both the hopefuls presenting their cases before the top brass even as the party asserted that an outcome is likely within a day or two.