Amid speculation over the future of former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge appointed him as a member of the Congress Working Committee, with immediate effect.
Siddaramaiah recently quit as the chief minister of Karnataka, paving the way for DK Shivakumar to assume leadership in the state and become the next CM of Karnataka.
The potential change of guard falls in line with a 2023 “rotational formula” — the promise was that Siddaramaiah would rule for the first two-and-a-half years and then allow Shivakumar to take over the remaining term.
DK Shivakumar’s swearing-in ceremony
DK Shivakumar will be sworn in as the CM of Karnataka on Wednesday, along with some ministers, in a ceremony at Lok Bhavan here, sources said.
The 64-year-old Vokkaliga strongman, who was elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka on May 30, will be administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at 4.05 pm at Lok Bhavan’s Glass House.
Though it is not officially known how many ministers will take oath on Wednesday in the first phase, sources suggest that 12 to 14 may be sworn in.
New Karnataka cabinet
The top Congress leadership on Tuesday held day-long deliberations with outgoing chief minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar on giving final shape to the new cabinet in the state.
Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra and Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyank Kharge are likely to find a place in the new cabinet, the sources told PTI.
While the party is toying with the idea of having two deputy chief ministers, a section within the party feels no deputy chief minister should be sworn in on Wednesday as there are many contenders and a balancing act among various castes may not be possible with only two deputy chief ministers.
G Parameshwara and Priyanka Kharge are top contenders for the deputy chief minister’s post, both being from the Dalit community.
The sources said that Shivakumar is not keen to have a deputy chief minister for now, as he has expressed his reservation on having another power centre in the state.
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