Rama Krishna Sangem
Stand off between Siddaramaiah, former CM and DK Shivakumar, PCC president over new CM of Karnataka continued on May 16, Tuesday. Now it is doubtful if the proposed Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting will be held on May 17, Wednesday in Bangalore. If that won’t happen, the swearing in of a new CM may not take place on May 18, Thursday, as decided ealier.
Hectic discussions between AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge and two contenders for CM post – Sidda and DKS – on Tuesday remained inconclusive. The main reason for the stalemate is DKS’s insistence of either CM post or nothing else. He made it clear to Kharge that he won’t join Sdda Cabinet and prefer to remain outside it, sticking to his PCC post, which he holds now.
Otherwise, Kharge in consultation with Rahul Gandhi decided to name Sidda as the new Congress CM for Karnataka which elected 135 out of 224 MLAs in the state, results of which were announced on May 13. As per the formula of the high command, which was chalked out by Karge and Rahul Gandhi, DKS would have been taken as deputy chief minster with a portfolio of his choice.
But, DKS who appeared amenable yet to adamant on the top post, rejected it saying nothing short of a full five year term of CM would be acceptable to him. This has put spanners in the works of the high command, which is eager to install a new government as already four days passed after election results were announced. Already, there is a mild criticism from opposition BJP that the governance in Karnataka has come to standstill.
It is still not clear to what extent the two main contenders would go. Sidda appeared grumpy over DKS’s new demands and refused to talk to waiting media persons outside Kharge hosue, saying: “I don’t want to say, anything”. Even DKS too didn’t say much except saying routines like “Congress is my mother” etc. A clear picture will emerge only on May 17, Wednesday, after Sonia returns to Delhi from her vacation in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh.
