Congress Legislature Party Gathers to Elect New Leader as Focus Turns to D K Shivakumar

The Congress Legislature Party in Karnataka will convene on Saturday to select a new leader to replace Siddaramaiah as Chief Minister. D K Shivakumar, who previously served as Deputy, is the likely candidate for leadership.

Following Siddaramaiah's resignation, the Cabinet was dissolved, and the new Chief Minister's swearing-in is expected soon. Party figures K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala will oversee the process, with suggestions indicating Siddaramaiah may nominate Shivakumar as the leader.

In preparation, senior legislators are lobbying for cabinet positions. Discussions in Delhi also cover the balance of experience and new figures in the next administration. Speculation surrounds potentially multiple Deputy Chief Ministers and the exclusion of some past ministers from the lineup.

The search for a new state Congress President is underway, with Satish Jarkiholi being a leading contender. These changes follow recent consultations between key Congress players to orchestrate a smooth transition and cabinet formation.

(With inputs from agencies.)