Shivakumar meets Rahul, gets proposal to have a say in K'taka cabinet selection

New Delhi, May 17 (IANS) Soon after Leader of Opposition (LoP) in outgoing Karnataka assembly Siddaramaiah met former party chief Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar too met him and it's learnt that a proposal has been given to him for the southern state amid deliberations over the chief ministerial post.

Shivakumar arrived at 10 Janpath, where he met Rahul Gandhi. The meeting between the two leaders lasted for over one hour.

After meeting Rahul Gandhi, Shivakumar reached party chief Mallikarjun Kharge's residence for a meeting with him.

His meeting with Rahul Gandhi came shortly after Siddaramaiah, former Karnataka Chief Minister met him too at his residence here.

The meeting of two leaders with Rahul Gandhi came a day after they met Kharge separately in the national capital on Tuesday evening.

Even as Shivakumar is pitching for his candidature for the top post in the state, it is learnt that to convince the Kanakpura MLA (Shivakumar), a formula has been given to him.

The party source said as per the proposal, Shivakumar has been given the choice that most of the ministers in state cabinet will be from his faction.

The source also said that, giving the option of two deputy chief ministers has also been proposed.

It is learnt that Shivakumar has been told that either he or another MLA from his camp can be selected for the role of the deputy chief minister in the southern state.

The source also indicated that this current formula will work till 2024 and his work and dedication towards the party will not be forgotten and thus he has been asked to give a good result in the next year assembly elections.

The source further said that after Lok Sabha elections, a decision will be taken as per the election results and even then his work in the state will be considered.

However, senior leaders remained tight-lipped on the developments.

The Congress president, for the last two days, has been holding a series of meetings with the party observers - party general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal, state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala. Even Kharge along with Venugopal and Surjewala had also held meeting with Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday afternoon to discuss the report of the CLP meeting that took place on Sunday evening in Bengaluru.

The Congress president has till now not made any announcement for the new chief minister in Karnataka. However, it is learnt that many people are in favour of Siddaramaiah for the top post.

Even the vote of the secret ballot of CLP meeting has not been announced.

Shivakumar had arrived on Tuesday afternoon in Delhi after cancelling his Monday trip due to stomach infection. Siddaramaiah had arrived in the national capital on Monday afternoon.

According to party sources, Kharge is likely to make an announcement on the new Karnataka chief minister on Wednesday after discussing the observers report with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

Veteran leader Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are vying for the top post.

Congress had won 135 seats in Karnataka whereas ruling BJP managed to win only 66 while the JD-S, which was hoping to play the role of kingmaker, was reduced to 19 seats in the state.

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