'Kaun Banega Mukhya Mantri': Congress struggles to choose between Shivakumar, Siddaramiah

Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister's post, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar is all set to visit Delhi today to discuss the issue of government formation with the central leadership.

“Congress party general secretary has instructed me to come alone. I am going to Delhi. My health is good,” DK Shivakumar said before leaving for the airport,

Earlier on Monday evening, he had cited ill health as the reason to not go to Delhi.

Siddaramaiah is in Delhi since Monday.

The three central observers of the Congress, who interacted with newly elected party MLAs on their choice for chief minister, briefed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report on Monday.

AICC General Secretary for Karnataka RS Surejwala said, “Siddaramiahji moved the single-line resolution authorizing the AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge to appoint a new leader of the Congress Legislative Party and 135 MLAs have unanimously approved it. It was also endorsed by D K Shivkumarji and other leaders. Now the three senior observers must take the individual opinions of each legislator and convey them to the Congress leadership.”

Frontrunners for post of CM

DK Shivkumar and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the chief minister's post, were called by the Congress' central leadership to Delhi for discussions.

Shivakumar is locked in an intense power struggle with Siddaramaiah over who will lead the government, after the Congress stormed to power by winning 135 seats in the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly.

Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the post, Shivakumar on Monday said his strength is 135, as it was under his leadership, the party won polls.

In just-concluded Assembly elections, the Congress scored an emphatic victory with 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and the former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.

Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and senior party colleague Siddaramaiah for the post of Karnataka Chief Minister, state Congress president D K Shivakumar on Monday said his strength is 135, as under his presidency, the party won the said number of seats in the Assembly polls.