The Congress will hold a meeting of its newly-elected MLAs from Karnataka at Bengaluru on Sunday evening, during which party leaders will discuss the next steps to form the government, The Hindu reported.
The Congress will also seek the views of its MLAs on the chief minister candidate, the newspaper quoted unidentified sources as saying.
As per the Election Commission’s final tally, the Congress won 135 out of 224 seats in the election that took place on May 10. The party comfortably crossed the halfway mark of 113 seats on its own, and registered its biggest victory in Karnataka since 1989.
The Bharatiya Janata Party won 66 seats in all, 38 less than its 2018 tally. It was defeated in the only state in south India where it held power. The Janata Dal (Secular) won 19 constituencies, 18 less than its tally from 2018.
On Sunday, Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar, who is seen as a probable chief ministerial candidate along with Siddaramaiah, said that he has made a lot of sacrifices for the party. He also added that he has differences with Siddaramaiah, according to The Indian Express.
“Many times I have sacrificed for the party,” Shivakumar said. “I sacrificed and helped and stood with Siddaramaiah. Wasn’t I patient when I was not made a minister in the beginning?”
On Monday, Shivakumar along with Siddaramaiah were called to Delhi by the party high command. However, Shivakumar did not go citing personal reasons, reported PTI.
He reiterated that the party has decided leave the matter to party high command, after that some might have shared their personal opinion,” Shivakumar said on Monday reported PTI.
“I don’t have the strength to speak about other’s numbers, my strength is 135 [elected Congress MLAs], I am the party president and under my presidency, the party has won 135 seats in Karnataka, against the double engine [BJP] government, the corrupt administration and suffering of the people.”
He added: “Since today is my birthday, a lot of people have come to wish me. I have to visit my deity with my family, after going there, I will leave for Delhi.”
While responding to claims of secret ballot among Congress members on selection of chief minister, Shivakumar told NDTV: “I wish him [Siddaramaiah] all the best. Good luck. I don’t know what the secrecy is.”
He also told the news website that former Congress president Sonia Gandhi had shown confidence in him to deliver in Karnataka.
“I am sitting here, doing my regular responsibility,” Shivakumar told NDTV. “You should have the basic courtesy, a bit of gratitude. They should have the courtesy to acknowledge who is behind the win.”
BJP wins Jayanagar seat after recount
Late on Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party’s CK Ramamurthy emerged victorious from the constituency of Jayanagar in Bengaluru by 16 votes against his Congress rival Souma Reddy, PTI reported.
The result was announced after multiple rounds of recounting.
Earlier, Congress state chief DK Shivakumar and state unit working president Ramalinga Reddy – who is Souma Reddy’s father – held protests outside the RV Institute of Management, where the votes were counted.
The Congress leaders alleged that government machinery was misused to favour Ramamurthy.
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