Karnataka News Highlights: The Congress party will be forming the government in Karnataka after winning majority and the debate now shifts to who will be crowned the next chief minister between veteran Siddaramaiah and strategist DK Shivakumar. A decision is expected to be announced by today evening on May 16. While Siddaramaiah is a veteran with previous administrative experience, Shivakumar has been hailed as a strategist for being instrumental for the party's in-roads with the dominant Vokkaliga community this election.
Notably, this is the Congress' best electoral performance in the state since 1989. As per the results declared by the Election Commission in 223 out of the 224 seats, the Congress has won 135 seats, the BJP's tally has been reduced to 65 and the JD(S) 19. Meanwhile, the party's victory in the Karnataka assembly polls is likely to help get its candidates elected in three of the four Rajya Sabha seats from the state falling vacant next year.
For the BJP, this comprehensive defeat in Karnataka after a campaign of contrasts has left it with much to ponder as the two rivals prepare for a direct contest in three more state polls this year in the run-up to the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The southern state has sent a warning to the BJP, experts feel, noting that the party has lessons to learn from Karnataka.
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Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Congress general secretary KC Venugopal arrives at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residencein Delhi
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Cong leader G Parameshwara says he is capable of performing responsibilities of CM post
Congress leader and former deputy chief minister of Karnataka, Dr G Parameshwara, speaking on the formation of the state government said, "If the Congress high command gives me the responsibility of the CM post, I will definitely fulfil it. They know everything about me and my work. I don't want to lobby."
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Karnataka Congress leader Siddaramaiah arrives at party's general secretary KC Venugopal's residence in Delhi.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Congress leader Siddaramaiah meets party president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi, holds talks over the post of chief minister of Karnataka.
Kharge may decide on Karnataka CM candidate tomorrow: Report
According to sources quoted by ANI, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has met with all stakeholders on deciding the Karnataka CM candidate, and that the announcement may be made tomorow in Bengaluru.
"No final decision yet on the CM post in Karnataka. Congress President has met all the stakeholders. Now the final decision will be taken by him in consultation with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. The announcement can be delayed until tomorrow and announcement can be made in Bengaluru itself," ANI tweeted quoting sources.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar says the party is his mother and he has no intention of leaving it
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are important, says Congress leader
Congress leader KH Muniyappa speaking on who Karnataka's new chief minister would be said both DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah are important and neither can be overlooked.
“Both the leaders (DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah) are important and none of them can be left behind. It is for the AICC to decide what kind of arrangement they make for them,” said KH Muniyappa.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: AICC General Secretary K C Venugopal arrives at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s residence in Delhi
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: 'My mother is my party, I built this party,' says DK Shivakumar
Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar as he leaves the residence of his brother and MP DK Suresh, says, "If any channel is reporting that I am resigning from the post, I will file a defamation case against them...Some of them are reporting that I will resign...My mother is my party, I built this party. My high command, my MLA, my party are there - 135."
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Rahul Gandhi leaves Kharge's residence in Delhi
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi leaves from the residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi. They
held a closed-door meeting for almost an hour and a half to discuss government formation in Karnataka, amid the race for the Karnataka chief minister's post.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Congress leader Pawan Khera addresses press conference in Hyderabad
“In many states, we have more than one competent leader, and such is also the case in Rajasthan. But, only one leader becomes the CM,” says Congress leader
Pawan Khera in a press conference in Hyderabad.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: G Parameshwara's supporters stage protest in Karnataka
Supporters of Congress leader G Parameshwara staged a protest in Karnataka demanding CM post for him ahead of the announcement of the Karnataka CM's name
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: DK Shivakumar arrives at his brother's office
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar arrives at the office of his brother DK Suresh
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: "Congress president will take a decision based on the observers' report says Congress leader BK Hariprasad
"Congress president will take a decision based on the observers' report. There is no delay, we are following the process," says Congress leader BK Hariprasad on the decision on Karnataka CM
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds closed-door meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi holds closed-door meeting with party president Mallikarjun Kharge over government formation in Karnataka. Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala also present
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Karnataka Congress Chief DK Shivakumar arrives in New Delhi
Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar arrives in Delhi from Bengaluru. He will meet party high command amid talks to decide the next chief minister of Karnataka.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: 6 factors that led to the Congress landslide
Karnataka is known to give fractured mandates in state elections. On May 13, 2023, that saw a change for the first time in 10 years, with Congress leading on a majority of the seats and the BJP conceding defeat. Here are six factors that led to the Congress landslide, read here
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Karnataka Congress MLAs arrive at Kharge's residence ahead of K'taka CM announcement
Newly-elected Karnataka Congress MLAs arrived at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's residence for a discussion on government formation in K'taka, news agency ANI reported. State Congress President DK Shivakumar is yet to reach the residence
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Ahead of K'taka CM announcement, Shiv Sena's Priyanka Chaturvedi takes a jibe at media
Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi took a jibe at the media for its coverage of the Congress' big Karnataka decision.
"Cute to see the media’s urgency to declare CM Karnataka. Their silence when BJP took 9 days to decide Assam CM, silence on the delay by illegitimate Maharashtra government in declaring its cabinet, same in Puducherry, makes one see their current outrage for Karnataka as nothing but desperate, agenda driven and pathetic."
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Ahead of K'taka CM announcement, here's what Bengaluru wants from the new government
With a new government set to take over in Karnataka, the country’s tech and startup capital, Bengaluru, has its hopes up. The Congress swept 135 seats in the 224-member Karnataka legislative assembly to displace the BJP-run administration. Despite having a vibrant startup ecosystem, Bengaluru has been plagued by crumbling infrastructure, traffic woes, potholes, and flooding/water-logging during rains. Read here
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Ahead of K'taka CM announcement, Congress top-brass arrives at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Ahead of K'taka CM announcement, Congress top-brass arrives at Mallikarjun Kharge's residence
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: 'Party's top leaders to announce Karnataka CM's name today says,' DK Shivkumar's brother, DK Suresh
Ahead of Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar's meeting with the Congress High Command, his brother, D K Suresh, said that the party's top leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Sonia Gandhi will announce their decision regarding the state's next Chief Minister today.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Congress romps home to Karnataka House but has two contenders for CM seat
The party has called a meeting on May 14 to discuss government formation and select a leader for the state. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will meet Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to discuss the chief ministerial position.... Read More
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: A look at the two contenders for CM seat -- Siddaramaiah
The former Chief Minister contested what may be his last election from the Varuna constituency, where his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah was elected in the previous assembly polls in 2018. He was pitted against V Somanna, the BJP's Housing Minister. He defeated Somanna by more than 46,163 votes. Previously, Siddaramaiah had contested from the Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysuru district, where he had won as an MLA five times and lost twice.
He started his political career in 1983 by winning from Chamundeshwari on a Lok Dal party ticket, and then joined the Janata Party, which merged with other parties to become the Janata Dal in 1988.
After the Janata Dal split into two factions, he joined the Janata Dal (Secular), headed by Deve Gowda, and became the president of the party's state unit. However, he was expelled from the party in 2005, when Deve Gowda's son HD Kumaraswamy was gaining prominence.
Siddaramaiah then joined the Congress in 2006, along with his supporters. He became the Leader of Opposition after winning in 2008, and became Chief Minister in 2013. He is now a nine-time MLA.
In 2019, when 17 MLAs resigned, leading to the fall of the Congress-JD (S) coalition government, Siddaramaiah took charge of the by-elections in Karnataka.
The by-polls were held on December 5, 2019, for 15 assembly seats, and Siddaramaiah was confident he would win 12 of those. But Congress managed to win only two seats, and the JD (S) none. The loss was a major setback for him, and differences arose among party members over his leadership.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: A look at the two contenders for CM seat -- DK Shivakumar
He is the incumbent MLA from Kanakapura, and the state Congress president. He contested against BJP's R Ashoka, the incumbent Revenue Minister, and Janata Dal (Secular) leader B Nagaraju, his nearest rival in the polls, who he defeated by a margin of more than 1,22,392 votes.
Shivakumar has been elected a legislator eight times and has held significant ministerial positions in Congress-led state governments. During the JD (S)-Congress government, which collapsed in 2019, he served as the Minister of Irrigation. Previously, he had served as the Minister of Energy under the Siddaramaiah government. On 2 July 2020, the senior leader officially took charge as Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, succeeding Dinesh Gundu Rao.
The 60-year-old is a close confidant of party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi. With a net worth around Rs 1,400 crore (declared prior to these assembly elections), he is one of the richest politicians. While filing his nomination for the 2018 elections, he had declared total assets of Rs 840 crore.
Shivakumar is a skilled strategist and is known as the Congress' troubleshooter in times of crisis. He is recognised as having played a vital role in the formation of the Congress-JD (S) coalition government in Karnataka after the 2018 elections.
In September 2019, the Enforcement Directorate arrested the Kanakapura legislator following multiple rounds of questioning on charges of income tax evasion and hawala transactions running into crores.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: I will not backstab, blackmail, says Shivakumar
"Winning 20 seats (in Lok Sabha polls) is our next challenge...Ours is a united house, I don't want to divide anyone here. I am a responsible man...I will not backstab also and I will not blackmail also. I don't want to go to the wrong history, I don't want to go with a bad remark," says KPCC chief DK Shivakumar before leaving for Delhi
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar before leaving for Delhi
-- "We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it...A mother will give everything to her child"
-- "Sonia Gandhi is our role model...Congress is family for everyone. Our constitution is very much important, so we have to protect everyone's interest"
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: CM race heats up; all eyes on top brass
As the race for the next Karnataka chief minister heats up, all eyes are on the Congress' top leadership here on their pick for the top post in the southern state. The observers have handed over the report on the views expressed by all the newly elected MLAs to party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
Kharge is likely to take a decision on who will be the next chief minister of Karnataka soon. He is also likely to hold consultations with top Congress leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi. With Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar both staking claim to the top post, they are lobbying hard for it with supporters of each one raising the pitch in support of their leader.
Meanwhile, the party is also gearing up for preparations for making the swearing-in ceremony of the chief minister a big show of strength, where several opposition leaders will be invited.
Karnataka News LIVE Alert
:
DK Shivakumar leaves for Delhi, says he was asked to come alone
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Observers took MLA inputs to prepare report
-- Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala.
-- The six top leaders discussed the report of the observers and the views of newly-elected MLAs elicited by the three during one-on-one interactions with the new legislators held in Bengaluru late on Sunday night.
-- Sources said the observers apprised the Congress president of the views of MLAs on the new chief minister and the government formation in Karnataka.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: DK Shivakumar to be in Delhi to discuss Karnataka government formation
The Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President will leave for Delhi from Kempegowda International Airport here by a 9:50 am flight, his office said in a statement.... Read More
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: ‘Loyalty Will Pay Royalty’, says Shivakumar
-- As suspense over who will be the next Karnataka Chief Minister continues, Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar in an interview with CNN-News18 dismissed reports of Siddaramaiah being selected as CM.
-- “I don’t know anything… Media is doing gossip. I was asked to go to Delhi because of my health, I did not go. I am not a part of the high command, we are the workers of the party. The party will take a final call," he said.
-- The KPCC chief said Lingayat, Vokkaliga seers and other Congress leaders have requested that he should be given a chance. “Ahmed Patel would have been so happy to see Congress has come to this stage in Karnataka. He would have enjoyed it. I have learnt one thing that a man with courage makes the majority. Loyalty will pay loyalty. I leave everything on high command. Without, root you will not get the fruit," he said.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Congress President will take an appropriate call, says Surjewala
"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," said Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC in-charge of Karnataka
Karnataka News LIVE: Three Congress central observers meet Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi
Sushilkumar Shinde, Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria met Kharge along with general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal and general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala.... Read More
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Congress says next CM will be decided by May 16 evening
-- The decision on the new chief minister of Karnataka would be taken by May 16 evening, according to Congress leader HK Patil. He added that talks are taking place at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi.
-- Congress observers for Karnataka including Sushil Shinde and Jitender Singh met party president Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. They are likely to submit a report on the CLP meeting held in Bengaluru to Kharge.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: DK Shivakumar will be in Delhi, says brother
Amid intense lobbying for the chief minister's post, the Congress leadership called Shivakumar and former chief minister Siddaramaiah — the two frontrunners — to Delhi for discussions. Siddaramaiah reached Delhi Monday afternoon, but Shivakumar cancelled his visit at the last minute citing health issues.
Later in the evening, DK Suresh, the Congress MP from Bengaluru Rural, met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter's residence and thereafter told reporters that his brother will be visiting Delhi on Tuesday, May 16.
"Yes, he will be coming tomorrow," D K Suresh said in response to a question from reporters.
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: DK Shivakumar declares, 'I've left the decision to the party high command'
-- Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar announced he will not be travelling to Delhi on May 15 due to illness.
-- He added that he has left decision on the choice of the state chief minister to the party high command.
-- 'I've a stomach infection and will not be travelling to Delhi today.'
-- ' There are 135 Congress MLAs. I don't have any MLAs. I've left the decision to the party high command.'
-- Later Shivakumar said he will try to travel to Delhi on May 16 and vowed that "we are all one and we will work together."
Karnataka News LIVE Updates: Siddaramaiah to be next Karnataka CM, Shivkumar cancels Delhi trip
-- Siddaramaiah will take over as chief minister of Karnataka, sources have told CNN-News18.
-- Congress leader HK Patil, told the media that the choice of CM candidates has been gathered from Karnataka MLAs and the results are confidential.
-- Soon reports emerged that Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar announced he will not be travelling to Delhi on May 15 due to illness.
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