Karnataka: Siddaramaiah to become boss, Shivakumar his deputy
After hectic negotiations over the last few days, the Congress’s central leadership today announced that Siddaramaiah would become the next chief minister and DK Shivakumar the deputy chief minister. The latter would also remain the state Congress chief till the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
Ending days of speculation, the Congress today appointed Siddaramaiah to his second term as Karnataka chief minister and named DK Shivakumar as the deputy chief minister. The oath-taking ceremony would take place on Saturday, May 20.
This was the compromise formula worked on to stem any attrition in the party from the rivalry between the two. As a compromise, Shivakumar would remain the state Congress chief till the 2024 general election.
Shivakumar’s office told Hindustan Times on Wednesday that he had received an offer of deputy chief minister and six portfolios of his choice.
Another formula being considered by the party’s central leadership was split terms of two-and-a-half years for each, but it was scrapped as neither Siddaramaiah nor Shivakumar wanted to go second in the line-up, according to several media reports.
After the announcements today, the chief minister-elect tweeted that “Karnataka’s secure future and our people’s welfare is our top priority” while his deputy said he had nothing to add to the party statement.
Interestingly, an emotional Siddaramaiah, addressing reporters on March 29, said that his plan was to retire after the elections. “After this, I am retiring from politics. It is my desire to represent my native constituency and place and retire. That is the reason I am contesting from Varuna constituency.”
