GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th May. The Congress confirmed Siddaramaiah as the next chief minister of Karnataka on Thursday, ending days of speculation, and D K Shivakumar as his sole deputy in the soon-to-be-formed cabinet.
The two leaders, who were in a close contest for the top post, will take the oath of office among other ministers on May 20, and leaders of other like-minded parties will be invited to the ceremony.
Announcing the decision taken by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after hectic parleys ever since the party emerged victorious on May 13, General Secretary (Organisation) K C Venugopal said all leaders, including the top leadership, worked very hard to make Karnataka victory a reality.
“We have decided on Siddaramiah as the chief minister of Karnataka. D K Shivakumar will the only Deputy CM,” he said.
Shivakumar will also continue as the party’s Karnataka state president till Parliamentary elections, he said.
At the same press conference, senior party leader Randeep Surjewala stated that the Congress party is dedicated to fulfilling the five election promises.
In response to a question on the much-discussed power-sharing formula between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, Venugopal stated that the sole power-sharing formula is to share power with the people of Karnataka. “Ours is a democratic party; we believe in consensus rather than dictatorship,” he added of the recent flurry of meetings.
