NEW DELHI:
As the suspense continues over who would be the new chief minister of Karnataka, Congress leaders DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah, the two top contenders for the CM post, met the party’s top leadership in New Delhi on Tuesday. Siddaramaiah, the former chief minister, is the frontrunner for the top post as he is also being backed by MLAs from DK Shivakumar’s camp.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge met senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal to finalise a name. He then held a meeting with Mr Shivakumar. Mr Shivakumar is locked in an intense power struggle with Mr Siddaramaiah over who will lead the government, after the Congress stormed to power by winning 135 seats in the May 10 elections to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly.
Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and Mr Siddaramaiah for the post, Mr Shivakumar had said his strength is 135, as it was under his leadership, the party won 135 seats.
