New Delhi | After three days of deliberations, the Congress on Thursday named veteran leader Siddaramaiah as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka and the party’s state unit chief D.K. Shivkumar was declared the only Deputy Chief Minister. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi, party general secretary (organization) K.C. Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala along with Venugopal thanked the people of Karnataka for the landslide victory in favor of the Congress.
This election was between the poor versus the rich in Karnataka, he said. Entire poor people and middle-class people stood with Congress. Our leadership, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and others worked very hard to make this a victory.
Venugopal said Kharge spent a month in Karnataka monitoring the election, while Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi toured the state extensively.
We would like to thank them for this, he said. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi’s advice and her presence in the campaign strengthened our prospects and energized our workers. No words to thank them.
Kharge held serious consultations with senior leaders and held discussions with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, Venugopal said. He took the views of Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Finally decided on the issue of the Chief Minister.
He asked me to announce my decision to the media and the people of Karnataka.
Venugopal announced that he (Congress President Kharge) has decided to make Siddaramaiah the Chief Minister of Karnataka. Siddaramaiah will be the Chief Minister of Karnataka. D.K. Shivakumar will be the sole deputy chief minister in the state and will continue to be the KPCC president till the Lok Sabha elections.
He said that the swearing-in ceremony will be held on May 20.
Venugopal also said that on May 13 the results of the polls were declared and on May 14 we had a CLP meeting, there were three observers for the CLP meeting.
He said, on the night of May 14 and the morning of May 15, he had a face-to-face meeting with the MLAs. The observers then submitted their report to the party chief.
Venugopal said we believe in consensus, not in a dictatorship. For the last three days, we were working toward a consensus and there is a group of senior leaders. Siddaramaiah is our senior leader and has contributed a lot to the Congress and worked tirelessly.
He said D.K. Shivakumar is a dynamic leader. He infused enthusiasm into the cadre of the party. Wherever there was a gap, he reached there and filled the gap. Both leaders are great assets to Karnataka.
He said that everyone has his own desire to become the Chief Minister, which is not wrong.
Venugopal also said that the party would send invitations to all opposition leaders for the swearing-in ceremony.
