Bengaluru: The decks were cleared on May 28, when Siddaramaiah resigned as chief minister of Karnataka.
The formalities were completed on Saturday, with DK Shivakumar aka DKS being formally elected as the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader at a meeting in Vidhan Soudha attended by CLP secretary Allamprabhu Patil, AICC general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala and Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal.
Outgoing CM Siddaramaiah proposed and announced DKS as t
he next CLP leader, which was backed by Home minister G Parameshwara.
The official letter stating Shivakumar being elected as CLP leader will be sent to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, whom DKS will meet to stake claim to form the new government.
As he had said after Siddaramaiah’s resignation, Shivakumar will be sworn in as the next Karnataka CM on the evening of June 3.
DKS thanked Siddaramaiah, and sought his continued guidance and support in a formal resolution.
“Everyone thought this change would be a problem for the Congress Party. Everyone anticipated this. We are a family, a great family. The Congress Legislature Party unanimously acknowledges Siddaramaiah’s service as Chief Minister for the last eight years. That resolution was moved by none other than DK Shivakumar. He presented a resolution congratulating him for his excellent service as Chief Minister of Karnataka. This is a proud moment for the Congress Party… In 2028, Congress will return to power in Karnataka with the support of all the leaders,” said Venugopal.
The focus will now shift to the selection of deputy chief minister/s under Shivakumar.