AICC general secretaries KC Venugopal and RS Surjewala will participate in the meeting where the CLP will first record its appreciation for Siddaramaiah’s services before formally electing Shivakumar as the new leader. The government will later make preparations for swearing in on the new CLP leader’s instructions.
Shivakumar is said to have consulted his family astrologer BS Dwarakanath who has suggested a time on the ‘auspicious’ days of Sunday (May 31), Monday (June 1) and Friday (June 5). Shivakumar will finalise a day and time based on the availability of Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi as he is keen to have them at the oath taking ceremony.
He shares a cordial relationship with Priyanka Gandhi who is said to have pushed Shivakumar’s case hard. Shivakumar participated actively in her campaigning in Wayanad during the Lok Sabha polls two years ago.
Five people will take oath along with him, according to sources close to the Dy CM, The party will later decide on the expansion after taking up wider consultations on balancing the caste and regions, as well as political loyalties.
Also Read: ‘His guidance will continue to inspire us’: DK Shivakumar’s farewell post for Siddaramaiah
On Friday, Siddaramaiah met Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi along with his son Dr Yatindra Siddaramaiah. He is believed to have politely turned down the Rajya Sabha offer, and discussed adequate representation in the new Cabinet for his loyalists, besides pushing the case of his son.In an emotional post on X, deputy CM DK Shivakumar, who is tipped to take over as the new CM, he said in the coming days, he hoped to receive Siddaramaiah’s guidancde for the welfare of the state and the strengthening of the Congress party. “Let us all move forward together for the progress of Karnataka,” he said.
“God does not give boons or curses. He only gives opportunities. What truly matters is what we make of those opportunities,” the Dy CM said, underscoring that Siddaramaiah’s life is one of the finest reflections of this thought.
Shivakumar also held meetings with the AICC leaders in Delhi on Friday seeking their guidance on the Cabinet formation.
Shivakumar’s elevation means he will have to give up the post of president of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Ministers Eshwar Khandre and Satish Jarkiholi are among the front runners.
Siddaramaiah is expected to push hard for his loyalists for a large number of ministerial berths as well as plum portfolios.
Shivakumar, who has been handling the high profile Bengaluru development portfolio besides water resources, is keen to keep the Bengaluru one as he has rolled out a number of projects to build on the image of Brand Bengaluru.
A number of Congress MLAs, who have won two times or more, have also been exerting pressure on the party leadership to give them an opportunity to serve as ministers by dropping some of the seniors.
Meanwhile, there are about 10 MLAs who have been loyal to Shivakumar and always issued statements pushing for his elevation as CM, displeasing the Siddaramaiah camp as well as the party leadership. Shivakumar will be under pressure to appoint the most vocal among them as ministers.
