Congress Legislature Party voted by secret ballot to elect new CM in Karnataka: Hariprasad

New Delhi (IANS) | The three observers appointed by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge are returning to Delhi to submit their reports to their high command. Meanwhile, party leader B.K. Hariprasad said that “secret ballot” was used for voting in the Congress Legislature Party meeting and the chief minister’s post would be decided soon. Speaking to IANS over phone from Bengaluru, Hariprasad said, yes, secret ballot was used for voting in Karnataka during the Congress Legislature Party meeting. And then a one-line resolution was passed authorizing Kharge to take a call on the CLP leader.

He said that all the observers have gone to Delhi to complete the process of selection of the new Chief Minister.

Hariprasad said, the report will be submitted to the Congress president, based on which Khargeji will have to appoint the next chief minister of the state.

Kharge had appointed former Maharashtra chief minister Sushil Shinde, AICC general secretary Jitendra Singh and Deepak Bawaria as observers for Karnataka.

According to sources, the three supervisors also met the newly elected MLAs to know their opinion.

The Congress, which won 135 out of 224 seats in Karnataka, is now led by former chief minister Siddaramaiah and state unit chief D.K. A tough decision will have to be taken to choose the Chief Minister from among Shivakumar.

Both the leaders have shown interest for the top post in Karnataka.

Besides the three observers, Congress in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala and party general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal is also returning to Delhi to meet the party chief.

Even Siddaramaiah, who was the Leader of the Opposition in the state, is scheduled to reach the national capital on Monday evening.

–IANS