Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has sought the post of Deputy Chief Minister for his son and MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah amid the ongoing leadership transition in the state, sources told
CNN-News18 on Friday.
According to sources, Siddaramaiah communicated his demand to the Congress high command during a series of meetings in Delhi as the party worked on finalising the next government formation in Karnataka following his resignation.
Sources further said Siddaramaiah informed the leadership that senior Congress leaders KJ George and G Parameshwara had declined the offer to become Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.
He is understood to have suggested that both leaders should instead be accommodated in the state cabinet.
The developments unfolded as Siddaramaiah held back-to-back meetings with top Congress leaders in the national capital.
Meanwhile, the Congress Legislature Party meeting is scheduled to be held on Saturday, DK Shivakumar told reporters today.
“Our central leaders have to come. We have told all MLAs to be present in Bengaluru. Apart from that, nothing else is there,” he said.
Meanwhile, on Friday, the outgoing Chief Minister met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence.
He was accompanied by Karnataka ministers Priyank Kharge, KJ George and his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah.
Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah also met Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath.
According to news agency ANI, discussions during the meetings revolved around the formation of the new Karnataka government, the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections and other political matters linked to the transition process in the state.
Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Surjewala confirmed Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi and described it as cordial.
The political developments come a day after Siddaramaiah resigned as Karnataka Chief Minister following directions from the Congress high command.
On Friday, Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot formally accepted Siddaramaiah’s resignation and dissolved the Council of Ministers headed by him with immediate effect.
However, Siddaramaiah was asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister till alternative arrangements are made.
According to an official order issued from Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru, the Governor exercised powers under Article 164(1) of the Constitution to accept the resignation and dissolve the ministry.
Addressing a press conference after stepping down on Thursday, Siddaramaiah thanked the Congress leadership and the people of Karnataka for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chief Minister twice.
The outgoing Chief Minister also underlined that the Congress continued to enjoy a comfortable majority in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly despite the leadership change.
Siddaramaiah’s resignation followed a high-level meeting held at his official residence, ‘Kaveri’ in Bengaluru.
During the meeting, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was seen paying respects to Siddaramaiah.
Siddaramaiah also stressed that the constitutional process for appointing the next Chief Minister would be followed and expressed confidence that the Governor would act accordingly.
