The Congress called a meeting of its legislators in Karnataka on Saturday and held marathon meetings in Delhi with Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar to decide the formation of the new government as the southern state prepares for the transition of the chief minister, a day after Siddaramaiah stepped down after months of speculation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi met Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar and discussed the state government, organizational changes and balancing rival factions within the state unit, people familiar with the matter said.
Key to these discussions has been the future role of Siddaramaiah, who resigned as chief minister on Thursday but rejected an offer to move to the Rajya Sabha, and the number of new deputy chief ministers under Shivakumar. Leaders familiar with the matter said that the party is considering restricting the number of these representatives to two from the previous formula, which included four.
Photos released from the meetings showed Siddaramaiah’s son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, alongside senior Congress leaders, fueling speculation about his possible entry into the government. Some reports suggested that he could be nominated as deputy prime minister, but leaders involved in the discussions said Yatindra is more likely to enter the government as a minister.
“Siddaramaiah wants Yatindra in a politically important department. The social welfare portfolio is among the options under discussion,” a leader familiar with the talks said.
The social welfare department, which oversees programs related to scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, is considered within the party as an influential portfolio.
The Congress legislative party is expected to formally elect Shivakumar as its leader in a meeting at 4 pm on Saturday, after which preparations for the swearing-in ceremony are likely to continue.
The first part of Friday’s meetings focused on appointing Siddaramaiah as chairman of the state’s Guarantee Schemes Coordination Committee, a ministerial-ranking post, a party leader said. The committee comprises state, district and council or taluk level structures to oversee the implementation of social welfare programs across Karnataka.
However, leaders familiar with the matter said Siddaramaiah sought a broader coordination mechanism linking the Congress organization and the state government.
“The BJP in Karnataka has a state president but also has a coordination committee headed by BS Yeddyurappa, which acts as an advisory body. Something similar is what is being looked for,” said a senior leader familiar with the discussions.
Leaders allied with Shivakumar are understood to have resisted the proposal, fearing it would lead to the creation of rival centers of power in Bengaluru after the leadership change.
According to party leaders, the Congress leadership is yet to approve the proposal.
Within the Congress, senior leader and minister KJ George is now expected to emerge as a major contender for the Rajya Sabha berth, according to leaders familiar with the discussions.
The negotiations also expanded to include discussions on cabinet formation, caste representation and accommodation of leaders from both camps. Ministers and legislators from Karnataka remained in Delhi throughout the day, as pressure intensified on portfolios and regulatory appointments.
“Every community wants representation and every faction wants to emerge in the new government,” a congressional staffer said. “This balancing exercise takes most of the time.”
Discussions are also continuing about the positions of deputy prime ministers in the next government. Senior Congress leaders MP Patil, Parameswara, Priyank Kharge and Tanveer Sait are among the main contenders, as the party tries to strike a balance between representation of Lingayats, Dalits and minorities.
A broader list of potential cabinet candidates also began circulating within congressional circles on Friday evening. The leaders whose names are being discussed for inclusion in the new government are Yatindra Siddaramaiah, A S Ponnana, Birathi Suresh, HC Mahadevappa, Priyank Karg, MP Patel, G Parameshwara, Krishna Peregowda, Santosh Lad, Dinesh Gundu Rao, Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Ramalinga Reddy, Rizwan Arshad, UT Khader and Sharath. Pachiguda. Governor Thawarchand Gehlot accepted Siddaramaiah’s resignation on Thursday.
