Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, May 30: Bringing in a change of leadership, Mr DK Shivakumar was on Saturday formally elected the leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka paving the way for his taking over as the chief minister replacing Mr Siddaramaiah who submitted his resignation on Thursday.
Mr Siddaramaiah moved the resolution to elect Mr Shivakumar as the new Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader at the meeting in Bengaluru. This was seconded by a minister in the outgoing cabinet G Parameshwara and passed by the CLP unanimously. The Congress Legislature Party thanked Siddaramaiah for the special service rendered to the people of Karnataka and to the Congress Party.
His swearing-in will be held at the Glass House in Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru instead of in a public place at 4 PM on June 3. According to KPCC Working President G.C. Chandrashekar, the decision has been taken to reduce inconvenience to people. Appealing to party workers not to come to the venue, he said Mr Shivakumar will go to the district centres, on dates to be announced later, to meet and thank party workers and the people.
“No passes will be issued. Some invites have been printed to hand over to legislators. The decision to have a simple oath-taking ceremony was of the KPCC, and as KPCC President Mr Shivakumar readily agreed,” he added. He will meet
The announcement about the swearing-in was made ahead of the legislature party meeting which followed hectic parleys in New Delhi on May 29 as factions pushed for a greater share in power, is expected to offer more clarity on the contours of the next government and the Cabinet re-composition.
Earlier in the day, Shivakumar met the Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Lok Bhavan to informally discuss the swearing-in of the new CM and council of Ministers, as the latter is expected to leave for Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district later in the day to attend Vice President’s event there on Sunday. After the CLP meeting Mr Shivakumar will meet the Governor again to stake a claim to form the government and request June 3 as the date for the swearing-in ceremony.
Deliberations were also underway regarding whether the swearing-in should take place at Lok Bhavan or on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha, sources said. However, it was finally decided to be held in a simple way in the Lok Bhavan itself.
There has been intense speculation on the swearing in ceremony date since the outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah resigned on Thursday. Sources said Shivakumar, who is a very religious person, has decided on the June 3 date for swearing in after consulting his astrologer Bellur Dwarakanath. 4:10 pm on June 3 has been decided as the “shubh muhurat” (auspicious time) for the swearing in by the astrologer.
Another factor behind the June 3 date for swearing in, according to sources, is the availability of Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi who is expected to attend the oath ceremony. Sources have told NDTV that two deputy chief ministers are also likely to take oath along with DK Shivakumar. One deputy chief minister is likely to be from the Dalit community and another from the minority community.
Earlier on Friday, Shivakumar had said the CLP gathering would be held in the presence of party observers, who will consult the Congress high command before a final decision is taken. “A CLP meeting will be held in Bengaluru at 4 PM. Our two observers will arrive. We will conduct the CLP meeting in their presence, and subsequently, they will take a call after consulting with the High Command,” Shivakumar told reporters on Friday.
On the question of leadership transition and his possible elevation as Chief Minister, Shivakumar said the decision would follow the election of the CLP leader. “I still do not know when they will elect the leader of the Congress Legislature Party. Then we will discuss,” he said.
The developments come amid heightened political activity within the Karnataka Congress after Siddaramaiah stepped down on May 28, saying his resignation was voluntary and based on the suggestion of the party high command.
Shivakumar had earlier met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, amid ongoing discussions over legislative leadership, Rajya Sabha nominations and organisational appointments in the state.
Since the Congress won the Karnataka assembly elections in 2023, there had been persistent talk of a power-sharing arrangement between CM Siddaramaiah and his deputy Shivakumar, reportedly endorsed by the party’s central leadership, that would involve a transfer of power after two and a half years. Key to the discussions held on Friday were the future role of Siddaramaiah and the number of new deputy CMs under Shivakumar. The party was considering restricting the number of such deputies to two from an earlier formula involving four.
Photographs released from the meetings showed Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra Siddaramaiah alongside senior Congress leaders, adding to speculation over his possible induction into the government. Some reports suggested he could be considered for a deputy chief minister position, but leaders involved in the discussions said Yathindra is more likely to enter the cabinet as a minister.
‘Shivakumar respected and senior leader of our party,’ Cong spokesperson Shama Mohamed said. He said the party gives posts to “capable people”, adding that there were “no issues.” “There are no issues… Congress, when it does something, it does well, and we give it to capable people. D.K. Shivakumar is a very respected and senior leader of our party, who is well-accomplished and very capable,” the party leader said.
The Congress is likely to strike a balance between different caste and communities in the new government as also among the factions of the party after the exit of Siddaramaiah. Sources have indicated that Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra Siddaramaiah is likely to get an important portfolio in the new dispensation.
Last week, after months of power tussle between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, Congress leadership finally took the call in favour of Shivakumar and asked Siddaramaiah to resign.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has issued key directives on the contours of the new government under Shivakumar. Sources said Gandhi wants greater representation for Dalits, OBCs and minorities in the new Cabinet. This is key for Rahul Gandhi’s social justice plank as the Congress has been forced to remove its only OBC chief minister in Siddaramaiah in the wake of sustained demand for change from the DK Shivakumar camp.
Sources further added that Rahul Gandhi is also keen on inducting younger faces into the Cabinet. This is seen as important to signal a change and attract more youth in the run up to the elections that will be held in 2028.
