BENGALURU: Amid the ongoing discussions on picking the chief ministerial candidate, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is holding talks separately with party state president D K Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah again today in New Delhi.
Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are firm on their stand that they should become chief minister and have been unmoved by the various options presented before them. The leaders are likely to meet Rahul Gandhi also before the party makes an announcement on the chief ministerial candidate.
The party leadership is also planning to stake claim to form the government on Thursday and meet the governor and the Congress legislature party is expected to meet again earlier. All the party MLAs have been directed to be present in Bengaluru by Wednesday night prior to staking claim to form the government.
The party is also planning to have the swearing-in ceremony on the grand steps of the Vidhana Soudha. Party leader Rahul Gandhi has suggested that chief ministers of non-BJP ruled states and leaders of regional parties should be invited for the event. The Sri Kanteerava Stadium is also being considered as another venue for the swearing-in ceremony and only the chief minister and deputy chief minister may be sworn in for starters.