Who Will Be Karnataka CM? Congress Could Split Tenure Of CM Between Siddaramaiah And Shivakumar

Karnataka Chief Minister: Congress is working out a formula to split the tenure of the Chief Minister between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, sources said.

Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar with senior party leader Siddaramaiah ( Image Source :PTI )

After securing a thumping victory in Karnataka, the focus for Congress now shifts on who will become the Chief Minister. Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah and Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar are in the forefront for the coveted post.

According to sources, 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.

However, corruption charges against DK Shivakumar is worrying the Congress. Shivakuamr hails from the prominent Vokkaliga community and managed to wean away the majority of votes from them for the Congress.

The source said since this was Siddaramaiah's last election, he would be given a last chance as CM and given the post for the first half.

However, the party needs DK Shivakumar as well ahead of the crucial 2024 general election. Known as Congress's troubleshooter, Shivakumar will be needed by the party to manage the entire Southern region.

Thus, the party feels that Shivakumar will be of more help to Congress by not being saddled with the CM post. He can be made the CM after the general election.

Siddaramiah had served as Chief Minister from 2013 to 2018. In 2013, he edged out M Mallikarjun Kharge, now the AICC President and the then Union Labour and Employment Minister, to become chief minister.

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Last week, Siddaramaiah, while answering a question on who will become the CM, said the high command would take the opinion of newly-elected MLAs and a decision would be taken accordingly.

"The observers will be sent here by the high command and a decision would be taken later after consultations and due process," he had said.

Shivakumar also maintained that the high command would take a call.

The Congress returned to power on its own in Karnataka after 10 years, defeating the BJP in its southern citadel on Saturday as the state  maintained its 38-year trend of never voting the incumbent party to power since 1985.

Making corruption a central campaign theme and promise of free rice, power and employment dole are among the factors that likely contributed to the Congress's good performance.