The 'nataka' in Karnataka over the next chief minister got a fresh twist after state party president DK Shivakumar cancelled his scheduled visit to Delhi at the eleventh hour. The 61-year-old leader, who was expected to reach Delhi on Monday evening, said he would not be travelling as he had a stomach infection.
The development comes even as senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrived in Delhi on Monday to meet AICC leadership.
Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar, one of the contenders for the Chief Minister's post, said, "I have a stomach infection and will not be travelling to Delhi today. There are 135 Congress MLAs. I don't have any MLAs. I've left the decision to the party high command."
However, late Monday night, Shivakumar's brother and Congress MP DK Suresh told reporters that the state party chief would arrive in Delhi on Tuesday. "Yes, he will be coming tomorrow," DK Suresh said in response to a question from reporters.
Congress is likely to announce its decision by Tuesday evening.
READ | Single Man With Courage Becomes A Majority, I've Proved It: Shivakumar Amid Karnataka CM Race
The U-turn by Shivakumar came hours after he said his "strength is 135", as under his presidency the party won the said number of seats in the Assembly election.
"I don't have the strength to speak about other's numbers, my strength is 135, I am the party president and under my presidency, the party has won 135 seats in Karnataka," Shivakumar had said.
Shivakumar, who is known for his strong organisational capabilities and is considered Congress' ace troubleshooter during difficult times, said his aim was to deliver a Congress government in Karnataka and he had done it.
"I'm a single man, I believe in one thing that a single man with courage makes a majority. I have proved it. I don't want to disclose what all has happened in the last five years and at a future point of time I will disclose," he said.
"Gandhi ji said one thing: Be bold hearted when you are defeated and be large hearted when you are victorious. When all our MLAs 15-16 of them left the party (in 2019), when we had a coalition government and lost it , I did not lose my heart. With courage I had taken up the responsibility (as KPCC President)," Shivakumar further said.
The Congress' central leadership will be deciding on the new Karnataka Chief Minister after its observers submitted a report on the opinion of the MLAs to party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
On Sunday, the Congress Legislature Party passed a unanimous resolution authorising party president Kharge to pick the next chief minister of Karnataka. AICC General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal and three central observers also held separate meetings with Siddaramaiah and Karnataka state president DK Shivakumar.
The Congress secured a thumping victory on its own in Karnataka after 10 years, winning 135 seats and defeating the BJP in the only state it was in power in southern India. The BJP came a distant second, winning 66 seats, a sharp drop from the 104 seats it won in 2018.