Karnataka: Congress high command now summons Shivakumar to Delhi

The Congress high command, which was expecting a smooth sail in deciding the Chief Minister candidate, faced problems as supporters of both Siddaramiah and Shivakumar shouted slogans for their respective leaders in front of the hotel where the party parliamentary committee meet was held on Sunday.

The Congress' top leadership on summoned its Karnataka state unit President, D.K. Shivakumar to New Delhi amid the tussle between him and veteran leader Siddharamiah over the Chief Minister's post in wake of the party's massive victory.

The state leader has left for Delhi and is expected to reach the national capital by 7 p.m.

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The Congress high command, which was expecting a smooth sail in deciding the Chief Minister candidate, faced problems as supporters of both Siddaramiah and Shivakumar shouted slogans for their respective leaders in front of the hotel where the party parliamentary committee meet was held on Sunday.

Siddaramiah, a former Chief Minister, has already reached New Delhi but Shivakumar had, in the morning, told journalists that he would not be leaving for the national capital as he had to meet the party cadres who were reaching Bengaluru in large numbers in Bengaluru from all regions of Karnataka to meet him.

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Sources in the Congress told IANS that the party national leadership summoned Shivakumar to New Delhi for arranging a meeting with party President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi to finalise the Chief Minister candidate.

Talking to IANS over phone, Congress General Secretary, Organisation, K.C. Venugopal said: "The election results had come only on May 13, and in a democratic political party, discussions will take place. There are no issues and everything will be sorted out and the name of a new Chief Minister will be announced soon."

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The Congress leadership is trying to convince Shivakumar to settle for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. He is also likely to be retained as the state party chief.
 

Karnataka CM tussle: Let's leave the matter to high command, says Shivakumar


Congress' Karnataka President D.K. Shivakumar on Monday quipped that he does not have a single MLA on his side, as "all the 135 MLAs who won in the elections belong to the Congress".

"Let's leave the matter of CM to the high command," he said.

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Addressing reporters, Shivakumar said that he is the single man and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will take a call on the leadership matter. "When I became KPCC President, Sonia Gandhi has assured me... When the coalition (with JD-S) government collapsed in Karnataka and we lost 15 MLAs, I did not budge and built the party," he said.

Shivakumar stated that he will go to New Delhi after meeting his spiritual guru.

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Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah has reached New Delhi to meet the high command. Former Ministers Zameer Ahmad Khan, M.B. Patil, K.J. George and Congress MLA Bhyrathi Suresh have accompanied Siddaramaiah.

Supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had started poster war claiming that their leader is the future CM of Karnataka.

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The Congress Legislature Party Meeting had passed a resolution leaving the matter of selection of the CM to Kharge.

Meanwhile, Lingayat seers have met and demanded that since 39 Lingayat MLAs have been elected, the DCM post should be given to them.

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Rambhapuri seer, an influential Veerashaiva-Lingayat seer has stated that Congress also won due to support of Lingayat community and DCM post should be given to the community.

Also read | Karnataka: Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar likely to share CM term

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Also read | Kharge deputes Shinde, Jitendra Singh & Babaria as observers for CLP election in Karnataka

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