Karnataka Election Results highlights: Cong MLAs authorise Kharge to pick new Karnataka CM

Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the CM candidate will be decided based on the observers' report. He said, “Our observers are going to Bengaluru and they will reach by evening. They will submit a report to high command after the CLP meeting and high command will finalise the name of the CM.” 

Latha Mallikarjun, who won from the Harpanahalli assembly seat as an independent candidate extended her full and unconditional support to the Congress party. She is also the daughter of veteran Congress Leader and Ex Deputy CM, Late MP Prakash. 

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told that PM Modi's roadshows did not work in Karnataka and called them flop shows. He said, “People are bored and tired of Prime Minister's roadshows. They might be showing up on roads but they were not really excited to watch him. The Karnataka result is the proof,” 

Former CM and Congress leader Jagadish Shettar thanked the people of Hubballi - Dharwad Central for electing him a an MLA for six times. Though he lost this time, Shettar told that he will continue to serve the people of Hubballi. 

He tweeted, “Heartfelt thanks to all the voters who have given the opportunity to serve the Hubli-Dharwad Central Assembly Constituency for 6 consecutive times. My service to the field will always continue like this. May all your love and trust be with me always. I will be with you then - today - forever.” 

Former Jayanagar MLA Sowmya Reddy requested people to stand with her and alleged that she was defeated unfairly. She tweeted, “Grateful for all my people of #Jayanagara who voted for me and @INCKarnataka cadre & leaders who had my back throughout. Thanks to the thousands of you who have showed solidarity. I plead your continued support to fight this injustice of foul play in the Jayanagar elections.” 

The posters of lord Ram and Hanuman which were set up outside Siddaramaiah's residence in Bengaluru were removed on Sunday. The Congress will begin the CLP meeting to decide the CM face in a next few hours. 

“Some people say that I have differences with Siddaramaiah but I want to clear that there is no difference between us. Many times I have sacrificed for the party and stood with Siddaramaiah ji. I have given cooperation to Siddaramaiah,” said Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar clarifying that there were no differences between him and the veteran leader. 

Sushil Kumar Shinde, Deepak Bawaria and Bhanwar Jitendra Singh have been made the observers in Karnataka by AICC. Observers will be present in the Congress Legislative party meeting today and will submit the report to the party high command.

Slamming the BJP on Karnataka polls, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel hinted that PM Modi should take responsibility for the defeat in the Karnataka elections.

Independent MLA Latha Mallikarjun who won from the Harapanahalli seat met Siddaramaiah on Sunday morning, before the crucial CLP meet. The Congress will finalise the CM candidate after the CLP meeting.  

Karnataka's former CM Basavaraj Bommai said that BJP's defeat in Karnataka is not PM Narendra Modi's defeat. He said. “This cannot be called as PM Modi's defeat. He is a national leader. Our state president Naleen Kumar Kateel will also not be stepping down. We will introspect in a meeting with all our party leaders.” 

The BJP which lost the power in Karnataka will hold a meeting with all elected MLAs in the state. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai told ANI, “We had an informal meeting the BJP state president Nalin Kumar Kateel. We will soon call for a meeting with our elected MLAs and also the people who contested. We will discuss where we went wrong and how to perform in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”

Congress leader Priyank Kharge has clarified abput the meeting between Siddaramaiah and ,allikarjun Kharge, before the crucial CLP meet. He said that it is just a courtesy meet and no politics have been discussed. Jr. Kharge also told that the CM candidate will only be decided in the CLP meeting in the evening. 

Ahead of the important legislature meeting in Karnataka, Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge left his residence in Bengaluru. He earlier met former CM Siddaramaiah who is aiming to be new CM of Karnataka. 

Congress leader Sachin Pilot congratulated the Karnataka unit for a massive win and told that the party spoke against the right issues. He said, “The Congress raised issues that matter and our allegations against former CM Basavaraj Bommai turned out to be true. That is why Karnataka people selected us.” 

Congress state president DK Shivakumar visited Kadasiddeshwara Mutt in Karnataka's Nonavinakere on Sunday morning along with his family. He took the blessings of Vrishabha Deshikendra Seer and he will head straight to Bengaluru for the crucial CLP meeting in the evening. 

A few Congress MLAs who won the election have met senior leader Siddaramaiah in Bengaluru on Sunday morning. MLAs like Dinesh Gundu Rao, Rizwan Arshad, Puttaranga Shetty C and Satish Jarkiholi were seen meeting the senior Congress leader, hours before the CLP meeting in Karnataka's capital. 

Senior Congress leader and CM aspirant Siddaramaiah has reached the residence of Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday morning, ahead of the crucial legislature meeting in the evening. He is set to hold talks with the Congress national chief, before heading to the CLP meet. 

Congress MLA from Bengaluru's BTM layout, Ramalinga Reddy said that there are leaders other than DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah who want to the next CM of Karnataka. He told ANI, “Leaders like Parameshwara and MB Patil are also CM aspirants in Karnataka. But only high command will decide who is going to be the CM. I will be one of the cabinet ministers.” 

Congress state boss DK Shivakumar told that he will be meeting his spiritual guru, Ajjayya at Karnataka's Nonavinakere, before heading to the CLP meeting in the evening. DK Shivakumar is in the CM race along with former CM Siddaramaiah. 

BJP south MP Tejasvi Surya told that the Karnataka defeat cannot demoralize the party cadre. He tweeted, “We humbly accept Karnataka's mandate. As a responsible national party, introspection & course correction will be carried out. One defeat does not demoralise BJP.” 

Tejasvi also told that he will draw and inspiration from the BJP workers in Kerala and West Bengaluru. "Our Karyakartas are working against much difficult odds in Bengal & Kerala, we'll draw inspiration from them & rebuild the party,' he added. 

Ahead of crucial CLP meeting, the supporters of Siddaramaiah have put up a poster outside his residence in Bengaluru, calling him ‘the next CM’ of Karnataka. The former CM has already announced that he is in the CM race along with DK Shivakumar and the final decision will be taken by the party. CLP meeting is scheduled at 6.30 pm today in Bengaluru and clarity on the CM face is likely to come after that. 

Former CM and six time MLA Jagadish Shettar alleged that the BJP used money power to defeat him in Hubballi Dharawad Central. Speaking to ANI, he said, “Money power played an important role in this elections. I won as an MLA for six times and never distributed money to the power. The BJP used all the forces to defeat me.” 

Bengaluru South MP Tejasvi Surya said that the narrow win of the BJP at Jayanagar is a tribute to BN Vijayakumar, who was a former MLA at Jaynagar. After EC announced the BJP candidate CK Ramamurthy as a final winner after the recounting, Tejasvi tweeted, “We reclaim Jayanagar. Our humble tribute to Sri BN Vijayakumar sir.” 

After a massive win in the assembly election, it is time for the Congress party in Karnataka to decide on its chief ministerial candidate. The party state boss DK Shivakumar has called for a CLP meet at a hotel in Karnataka's capital on Sunday evening. Former CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC president DK Shivakumar are popularly in the CM race and party is expected to announce the final decision after the crucial legislature meeting.