BENGALURU: Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister’s post, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar left for Delhi on Tuesday to discuss with the party’s central leadership the issue of government formation in the state.
He and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the chief minister’s post, were called by the Congress national leadership to Delhi for discussions. On Monday evening, Shivakumar had initially cancelled his visit to the national capital citing health issues.
Siddaramaiah reached Delhi on Monday.
Before leaving for Delhi on Tuesday, the Karnataka party unit chief said, “I’m going to Delhi. The Congress general secretary has instructed me to come alone. I’m going to Delhi alone. My health is in good condition. The Congress party is my temple, Congress party is our big strength, so no need for anyone to be worried.”
Speaking to reporters, he said: “People have blessed us (Congress). We have to put efforts unitedly to save and grow the public trust on us…may the people of Kannada naadu (region), mother Bhuvaneshwari and mother Chamundeshwari (goddesses) continue to bless us to protect the Constitution and make Karnataka ‘Sarva Janangada Shantiya Thota’ (Garden where all communities live in harmony).”
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.
The Congress Legislature Party, which met at a hotel in Bengaluru on Sunday, had passed a unanimous resolution authorising Kharge to pick the next chief minister.
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.