Governor Gehlot invites Siddaramaiah to form govt on May 20

BENGALURU: Karnataka governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, late on Thursday evening, invited Congress legislature party leader Siddaramaiah to form the government in the state.

After receiving a formal claim to form the government, the governor, in a letter to Siddaramaiah, wrote, “I am in receipt of your letter dated May 18, 2023, staking claim to form the government. I invite you to take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka and D K Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka along with team members. The oath ceremony will take place at 12.30 pm on May 20 at Kanteerava Stadium, Bengaluru”.

A Congress delegation, including CM-designate Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM-designate D K Shivakumar, met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan to stake claim to form the government. The delegation also wished Governor Gehlot on his birthday.

Earlier in the evening, Siddaramaiah was unanimously elected as the Congress legislature party (CLP) leader at a meeting held at the Indira Gandhi Bhavan. Congress leaders R V Deshpande, H K Patil, M B Patil and Lakshmi Hebbalkar proposed Siddaramaiah’s name.

Congress state president D K Shivakumar moved a resolution to elect Siddaramaiah as the new CLP leader and all members endorsed it unanimously.

Siddaramaiah was unanimously elected CLP leader earlier

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar returned from the national capital by a special flight after days of deliberation for the chief ministerial face. The Congress officially announced the name of the chief ministerial face on Thursday. Siddaramaiah was announced as the chief minister and D K Shivakumar was announced as his deputy.

Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar arrived by a chartered plane at the HAL airport from where they were escorted by the police. The two leaders were welcomed by folk artists and hundreds of supporters who had gathered there showered flower petals on the vehicles of both vehicles. From the airport, they headed to the Indira Gandhi Bhavan where the CLP meeting was held.