Not Too Happy, But Decision In Party Interest

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister contender DK Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh on Thursday said the Congress leadership’s decision on the Catch-22 following the election win five days ago has been in the interest of the state and party, but it has not left them happy.

“This decision has been taken in the interest of Karnataka and the party… My brother wanted to become Chief Minister, but he didn’t become. We are not too happy with this decision,” the Congress MP told NDTV.

Mr Suresh said that the final agreement may include splitting the five-year term between Mr Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, who is set to be named Chief Minister, according to Congress insiders.

“It is not clear what formula has been proposed. I am hearing they have proposed a two-and-a-half-years term-sharing,” Mr Suresh said.

After days of internal wrangling, the Congress is set to announce Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister and DK Shivakumar as his deputy at the Congress Legislative Party meeting in Bengaluru this evening, sources have said. They will take oath on Saturday.

Siddaramaiah will be elected the Congress Legislative Party leader and cabinet formation discussions are almost complete, sources said, adding that Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge worked through the night to find a solution.

Sources close to Mr Shivakumar said that he had accepted the Number 2 position following an intervention by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The sources said the veteran leader had agreed to make the “sacrifice in the interest of the party”.

Earlier, Mr Kharge and Rahul Gandhi had made two offers to Mr Shivakumar at a meeting in Delhi on Wednesday. But the meet remained inconclusive, with the top post contender turning down both options, sources said. Another meeting was held later in the evening.

Sources said the first option gave Mr Shivakumar the post of the state’s single Deputy Chief Minister post alongside his current job – heading the state party unit. He was also offered six ministries of his choice.

The power-sharing deal between Mr Shivakumar and Mr Siddaramaiah was Option 2. But sources said neither Mr Shivakumar nor Mr Siddaramaiah was ready to go second. It now hinges on the Congress’s performance in Karnataka in the general election next year, sources said.