Siddaramaiah

The presence of the TMC chief at the swearing-in programme of Siddaramaiah is considered crucial for opposition unity, especially after her recent statement that in 2024 Lok Sabha elections, her party will support the Congress where it is strong.

Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, who were camping in the national capital for days after winning the Karnataka Assembly polls, left for Bengaluru this afternoon. A Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting will be held in Bengaluru today at 7 pm.

With DK Shivakumar as KPCC president, Congress scored a resounding victory in the May 10 Karnataka elections with 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly.

Announcing the decision taken by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after hectic parleys ever since the party emerged victorious on May 13, KC Venugopal said all leaders, including the top leadership, worked very hard to make Karnataka victory a reality.

DK Shivakumar has been named as Karnataka Deputy CM byCongress High Command. Speaking about the development, he said, "The party high command has taken a decision."He further said he is ready to sacrifice the position for the party.

Siddaramaiah will take oath as the next chief minister of Karnataka, while Congress state president DK Shivakumar will take charge as his deputy.Shivakumar will continue as the PCC president till the end of parliamentary elections.

Hectic parleys are on in New Delhi as former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is in stiff competition with state Congress president D K Shivakumar to become the CM.

Several Congress leaders and workers have claimed that Siddaramaiah is considered the front-runner among the two while Shivakumar is seen taking a strong position, claiming that the assembly polls were won under him as state party chief and that he has worked hard for ensuring this victory.

The 'guarantees' found resonance with voters of the May 10 Karnataka Assembly elections 2023, particularly with women, and played a key role in the party's resounding victory, political analysts noted.

Reports suggest that the leadership sweetened its offer to Shivakumar by promising him a three-year term if he agreed to Siddaramaiah presiding over the CMO for the first two years of the tenure.