Read more
over 90 minutes. Their conversation revolved around the chief minister’s post and the process of setting up a government in Karnataka after the Congress’ remarkable victory in the May 10 assembly elections, where it won 135 of the 224 seats.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Surjewala and general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal were also present during the meeting between Kharge and Gandhi.
Venugopal later met Gandhi separately at his residence.
However, top party leaders remained tight-lipped on who would be the likely choice for the chief minister’s post and by when a decision would be taken.
Sources say that Sonia Gandhi may also be discussed before the final decision is taken.
Party spokesperson Pawan Kheda said in Hyderabad that the decision on the appointment of the Chief Minister of Karnataka would be known in a day or two.
“The appointment of the Chief Minister is not an easy matter. It cannot be imposed from Delhi… Everyone’s opinion has to be kept in mind. We will have to engage with each and every stakeholder and then decide who will be the chief minister.
“The process is on. The observers have already gone there, met the legislators. The legislators have given their opinion. Now, the opinion has gone, the whole record has gone to the central leadership. So in a day or two you will get The answer will be found.
Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, who is camping in the national capital since Monday, met Kharge after 6 pm and the two leaders discussed various issues related to Karnataka government formation. The meeting lasted for more than an hour.
Siddaramaiah later went to Venugopal’s residence for a meeting.
Karnataka PCC President Shivakumar reached the national capital from Bengaluru and directly reached his brother’s house. Later, he met Kharge at around 5 pm and the meeting between the two lasted for about half an hour.
Shivakumar, who is one of the top contenders for the post of chief minister of the state, had earlier said that the party is his mother and there was no question of him resigning from the organisation.
“We have built this party. There is no question.
“If any channel is reporting that I am resigning from the post, I will file a defamation case against them,” he said.
Asked if he would meet Rahul Gandhi as well, the Karnataka leader said, “I have to meet all the leaders.” First I have to meet my Congress President. Shivakumar said, “My high command is there, my party is there, our MLAs are there – 135.”
Suresh said since the party won under his (Shivkumar’s) leadership as state Congress chief, he has the right to stake his claim on the top post.
He had met Kharge at his residence on Monday evening after Shivakumar canceled his visit to Delhi on Monday citing health reasons.
Both Shivakumar and former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah are staking claim to the top post and their supporters are lobbying hard.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader G Parameshwara also threw his hat, saying he was ready to take the responsibility if the party high command asked him to run the government.
The former state Congress president said, the high command is aware of his service to the party and does not feel the need to lobby for the post.
“If the high command decides and asks me to run the government, I am ready to take the responsibility,” the former deputy chief minister told reporters in Bengaluru.
“I have faith in the party high command. I have some theories. I can also shout slogans with about 50 MLAs, but for me the discipline of the party is necessary…. If the high command gives me the responsibility, I will take it up. I didn’t say I wouldn’t,” he said.
“They (high command) also know that I have worked for the party, served (as KPCC president) for eight years and brought it to power (in 2013)…. I feel no need to ask or lobby for the position, and I am silent. It doesn’t mean that I am incapable, I am capable and will work if given a chance.
The newly elected legislators in Karnataka on Sunday passed a one-line resolution empowering party chief Kharge to appoint the legislature party leader, who will be the new chief minister.
Kharge earlier held discussions with party leaders from Karnataka and three observers appointed by him to oversee the Congress Legislature Party meeting held in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Three central observers—Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria—had met all the Congress MLAs separately and sought their opinion on who would be the chief minister of their choice.
They also did a ‘secret ballot’ on their choice for Chief Minister. The observers discussed the findings of their report and submitted it to Kharge on Monday night.
In the just-concluded assembly elections, the Congress won a landslide victory with 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular) led by former prime minister HD Deve Gowda secured 66 and 19 seats, respectively.