New Delhi, May 17 (). Amid suspense over the next chief minister of Karnataka, state Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar met his loyal MLAs and state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala at the residence of his MP brother here on Wednesday.
His meeting with party legislators followed a detailed meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi at his residence.
Shivakumar, who is one of the chief ministerial contenders in the state, met Rahul for the first time at 10 Janpath. The meeting lasted for more than an hour.
Kanakapura MLA Shivakumar then reached Kharge’s residence and their meeting lasted for about one-and-a-half hours.
After this he joined his brother party MP D.K. Met party MLAs along with Suresh. However, it is not yet known what Shivakumar discussed with him.
During the meeting, Congress MLAs Beluru Gopalakrishna, Virendra Pappi, H.C. Balakrishna, Ranganath and Iqbal Hussain were present.
Subsequently, surrounded by the media, Shivakumar was asked if there was any discussion on the chief minister’s post in his meetings with Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, he said: nothing, no discussion, only greetings.
Asked whether he would return to Bengaluru on Wednesday night, he said, “I don’t know.”
Shivakumar then went to meet Surjewala at his residence.
Earlier in the day, while talking to the media, Surjewala said: At present, party president Mallikarjun Kharge is deliberating. We will inform you whenever the party takes a decision. Karnataka will have a new cabinet in the next 72 hours.
He also urged the media not to speculate or spread rumors and desist from fake news.
He said, do not pay attention to the fake information and rumors being spread by the BJP.
Targeting the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Surjewala said that it takes about 10-15 days for the BJP to decide on the chief minister’s post, but here the Congress president is continuously holding discussions to select the new chief minister.
He also said that the next Congress government in Karnataka is determined to fulfill the five guarantees given to the people of the state.
We will implement five guarantees as promised by Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, he said. The party will ensure that there is no government with 40 per cent commission in the state.
The Congress President has not yet made any announcement regarding the new Chief Minister in Karnataka. However, it is learned that many are favoring Siddaramaiah for the top post.
After discussing the observers’ report with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, Kharge is likely to announce the new Karnataka chief minister on Wednesday or Thursday.
In Karnataka, the Congress has won 135 out of 224 seats, while the BJP could win only 66 seats.
SGK/ANM
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