Siddaramaiah will take oath as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 20.

Siddaramaiah will take oath as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka on May 20.

After churning for four consecutive days regarding the Chief Minister in Karnataka, the Congress High Command has taken a decision. Siddaramaiah will be the next Chief Minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar will take oath as the Deputy Chief Minister. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has reached a consensus for the formation of the Karnataka government. The swearing-in ceremony will take place on May 20 at 12.30 pm in Bengaluru.
Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting has been called in Bengaluru today (May 18) at 7 pm. Central observers of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) have been asked to reach Bengaluru for the CLP meeting. Earlier on Wednesday, Congress’ Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala had said that the next chief minister will be decided today or tomorrow and a new cabinet will be formed within 72 hours.

On Wednesday, a long series of meetings of the contenders for the Chief Minister’s post with the Congress high command continued in Delhi. Several rounds of discussion took place between Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. DK Shivkumar was also made to sit in the meeting to make a consensus. Earlier in the day, there were reports of a common agreement between Congress state president DK Shivakumar and senior leader Siddaramaiah regarding the chief minister’s post. It was claimed that preparations for the swearing-in are going on in full swing in Bengaluru. But by evening, the party denied this and was told that it will take 2-3 more time to decide the name of the CM. Now late night news has come that a consensus has been reached on the next Chief Minister.

In fact, after a long exercise during the day, there was a discussion on the formula of two and a half years in the party. DK Shivkumar had expressed condition on this also. If sources are to be believed, DK Shivakumar had said that even if it is a common agreement, the first two and a half year term should be given to me while the second to Siddaramaiah. DK Shivakumar said that I should be given the first term or else I don’t want anything. I will remain silent even in that situation. Along with this, DK Shivkumar had flatly refused for the post of Deputy CM as well.