Karnataka CM latest news: Amid hectic consultations, senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah is likely to be named as the Chief Minister of Karnataka at 6 PM today, reported India Today. The Congress party won a thumping victory in the state on May 13 bagging 135 seats in the 224-member Assembly, however, the celebratory mood was dampened as the intense contest began between the choice of the CM face. The two leaders had met the Congress leadership of Tuesday, and Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar met Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday as well at 10, Janpath in Delhi. The oath-taking ceremony is likely to take place tomorrow.
Top party leaders were, however, tight-lipped on who was the probable choice for the chief minister’s post and by when the decision would be taken. In Hyderabad, party leader Pawan Khera said that a decision on the appointment of the chief minister of Karnataka will be known in a day or two. Reportedly, it is Sonia Gandhi who would likely take the final call on the CM decision.
Karnataka government formation live: Who will be the CM of Karnataka? Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar is yet to be known. The two Congress leaders met Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday.
Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar arrives at the residence of his brother and party MP DK Suresh, in Delhi.
Preparations are underway in Bengaluru for the swearing-in ceremony of new Karnataka Chief Minister. It is yet to be decided who would be the CM face - Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar.
In the next 48-72 hours, we will have a new cabinet in Karnataka, says Randeep Surjewala, Karnataka in-charge.
Congress is yet to finalise its CM candidate in spite of getting a majority. This shows the internal situation in the party. The aspirations of people are more important than politicking. Congress should choose a CM as soon as possible, says outgoing CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai.
After meeting the party leader Rahul Gandhi, DK Shivakaumar arrives at the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge, in Delhi.
Supporters of senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah celebrate and burst firecrackers ahead of the decision.
CM aspirant DK Shivakumar reaches Rahul Gandhi's residence.
Karnataka chief ministerial aspirant Siddaramaiah meets Rahul Gandhi amid hectic parleys in party to name its CM face in state. Karnataka Congress chief D K Shivakumar also likely to meet Rahul Gandhi later in the day, reports PTI.
Karnataka CM aspirant Siddaramaiah arrives at 10, Janpath to meet Rahul Gandhi in Delhi.
Karnataka Congress Working President Eshwar Khandre says that the name of the CM candidate could be announced by Wednesday evening.
"DK Shivakumar has done his job as the KPCC President and got Congress back to power. He should be made the chief minister," says Congress MLA HC Balakrishna.
Karnataka PCC president Shivakumar arrived in Delhi from Bengaluru and drove straight to his brother DK Suresh's residence. He later met Kharge around 5 PM and the meeting between the two lasted around half an hour.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who has been camping in the national capital since Monday, met Mallikarjun Kharge for over an hour, and the two leaders discussed various issues related to Karnataka government formation.
Hello readers! Welcome to Financial Express Online live blog! Catch all live updates on Karnataka government formation here. Who will be the CM? Siddaramaiah or DK Shivakumar, is yet to be known.
The newly-elected MLAs in Karnataka had on Sunday passed a one-line resolution authorising party chief Kharge to appoint the legislature party leader, who will be the new chief minister. Kharge earlier held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and the three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday.
The three central observers - Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria - had met all Congress MLAs individually and sought their views on who would be their choice of chief minister. They also held a 'secret ballot' on their choice for chief minister. The observers discussed the findings of their report and handed it over to Kharge on Monday night.