Siddaramaiah to become the chief minister of Karnataka; DK Shivakumar may get important departments including Home Ministry

NEW DELHI: It is hinted that the Karnataka Chief Minister post may be given to Senior Congress leader Siddaramaiah. It is reported that an official announcement will be made after Sonia Gandhi arrives in Delhi. There are indications that Siddaramaiah will hold the post of Chief Minister for the first two years of the appointed government and the post will be handed over to DK Shivakumar for the remaining three years.

Sonia Gandhi, who is in Shimla, will hold talks with DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah after her return to Delhi. Soon after this, the post of Chief Minister will be announced. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is holding consensus talks with DK Shivakumar, who was claiming the post of chief minister. Although DK Shivakumar, who played a crucial role in the election victory, had informed the Congress leadership that there will be no rebel movement, efforts are currently being made not to disappoint him. It is reported that DK will hold the post of Deputy Chief Minister and DCC Chairman. Siddaramaiah will also meet the High Command. Meanwhile, DK Shivakumar said 'The party is like a mother, it will provide what the son needs' just before the Delhi trip. He said that MLAs will not be divided. Siddaramaiah, who arrived in Delhi yesterday, had completed meetings with senior leaders.

The high command wishes to give the 75-year-old Siddaramaiah the first two-and-a-half years considering this as his last chance, and his good image. The high command fears that if Sivakumar, the Congress's trouble-shooter and loyalist, is made the Chief Minister now, ED cases and corruption charges against him will be dug up by the Centre. The party's assessment is that there is no other purpose in making Praveen Sood, who was Karnataka DGP and an enemy of Shivakumar, the CBI director.