NEW DELHI: Congress senior leader and frontrunner for the Karnataka’s chief minister post, Siddaramaiah, left Delhi’s Lodhi Hotel late on Monday night, hours after meeting top leadership of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) here. He, however, remained tight-lipped and did not interact with the reporters.
The 75-year-old leader arrived in the national capital by a special flight on Monday evening to meet AICC leaders. “Let’s wait and see…I don’t know…” Siddaramaiah said when asked about the next CM, earlier.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar’s brother D K Suresh also arrived in Delhi and met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence on Monday evening. “I have met the AICC chief. I meet him whenever I come to Delhi. The same way I met him today. Our AICC general secretaries will let you know about other issues”, Suresh told reporters.
The suspense over the new Karnataka CM continued on Monday as Shivakumar cancelled his visit to Delhi citing health issues after he and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the top post, were called by the top leadership of AICC for discussion.
The central observers of Congress for Karnataka have already submitted their report to party president Mallikarjun Kharge who will consult UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party leader Rahul Gandhi to arrive at a final decision, party sources said earlier on Monday. “The name of the next Karnataka CM will be announced in the coming 24 hours,” they said.
Reacting to the suspense, AICC in charge of Karnataka, Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the party will stand up with the 6.5 crore Kannadigas. “Congress party will stand up to the pledge made to 6.5 crore Kannadigas…the observers have submitted their written report to the Congress president…he will look into the report, will hold deliberations with state leaders & other central leaders and will take an appropriate call,” he told the reporters.
Congress leader H K Patil said, “In my view, it (the name of the next Karnataka CM) will be decided by Tuesday evening. Our process is still on”. (ANI)