The Congress claimed a significant win in the recent Karnataka Assembly election, securing 135 out of the state's 224 Assembly seats. After nearly a week of speculation, the Congress finally named Siddaramaiah as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka and DK Shivakumar as his deputy on Thursday. This decision marks the end of the uncertainty that followed the party's statement victory in the 2023 Assembly election.
Shivakumar, who had previously refused to withdraw his claim to the chief ministership, will continue to serve as the Congress' Karnataka unit boss until the 2024 Lok Sabha election. The power-sharing formula between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar was a topic of discussion to resolve the stand-off. The Congress responded by stating that "power sharing means sharing power with the people of Karnataka... that is all."
Initially, split terms of 2.5 years each for Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were considered as an option. However, this was ultimately discarded as neither leader wanted to go second in the line-up. The swearing-in ceremony for both leaders, along with an unspecified number of ministers, is scheduled to take place on Saturday.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar expressed their commitment to Karnataka's secure future and the welfare of its people. Shivakumar's previous statement about sacrificing for the party and not engaging in any backstabbing was seen as ruling out rebellion. Furthermore, it was reported that Shivakumar received an offer of the deputy chief minister position and six portfolios of his choice, indicating the Congress's intention to appoint Siddaramaiah as chief minister.
Regarding the delay in naming a chief minister, Congress leaders KC Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala emphasized that extensive deliberations and discussions took place. The party highlighted that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are highly capable senior leaders who deserve to become chief minister. They reaffirmed the party's commitment to democracy and consultation with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other senior leaders in the decision-making process.
The resolution of the Karnataka conundrum comes as a relief to the Congress, which aims to build on the momentum of this election win. With crucial elections approaching, the Congress can now focus on Rajasthan, where tensions between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and former Deputy Sachin Pilot have been escalating. Additionally, elections are scheduled in Mizoram, Congress-ruled Chhattisgarh, BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh, and Telangana, where Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and his Bharat Rashtra Samithi are preparing for the Lok Sabha election.
The naming of Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister and Shivakumar as Deputy brings clarity & stability to the Congress's leadership in Karnataka. This development allows the party to concentrate on its future endeavours.