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DK Shivakumar chosen as Karnataka's next chief minister at CLP meet; oath on June 3
The decision was taken in a Congress legislators meeting at Vidhana Soudha, where leadership transition was completed after deliberations.
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) on Saturday unanimously elected D K Shivakumar as its new leader, formally selecting him as the successor to Siddaramaiah and paved the way for him to become Karnataka's 18th chief minister.
The decision was taken in a Congress legislators meeting at Vidhana Soudha, where leadership transition was completed after deliberations involving senior party leaders.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal announced, "DK Shivakumar has been elected as the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party."
Venugopal on Shivakumar's journey
Venugopal praised Shivakumar's journey through the Congress, and said, "Shivakumar started in the NSUI, then the Youth Congress and later the Pradesh Congress Committee. Finally, he has achieved his dream."
"His love and loyalty for the Congress are unmatched. His 24/7 hard work has finally made him CM," he added.
Venugopal also paid tribute to Siddaramaiah and signalled that the outgoing CM would continue to play a role in the party.
"We will not allow you to rest. Your service is needed for the Congress in Karnataka and at the national level as well," he told Siddaramaiah.
The process leading to Shivakumar's election began after Siddaramaiah placed a resolution before the legislature party proposing that the choice of the new leader be entrusted to the AICC. The motion was seconded by G Parameshwara and received unanimous backing from the legislators through a show of hands.
Also Read | Karnataka Governor accepts Siddaramaiah’s resignation as chief minister, dissolves cabinet
What happened?
After a brief recess, Siddaramaiah, Venugopal and AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala held discussions in the CM's chamber before returning to the legislature party meeting. Siddaramaiah then formally proposed Shivakumar's name for the post.
According to the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, Parameshwara seconded the proposal and legislators endorsed it unanimously.
Before the selection process commenced, Surjewala informed the gathering that the election of the new legislature party leader will proceed on the basis of Siddaramaiah's proposal.
The meeting agenda included the attendance of MLAs, a welcome address by CLP Secretary Allam Prabhu Patil and remarks by Surjewala and Venugopal.
Legislature party's formal communication naming Shivakumar as leader will be sent to the Raj Bhavan, following which he is expected to meet Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and stake claim to form the government.
Following his election, Shivakumar moved a resolution expressing appreciation for Siddaramaiah's tenure as CM. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the legislature party.
"The CLP expresses its heartfelt gratitude to Siddaramaiah for his invaluable service to the people of Karnataka and the Congress party," the resolution said.
It further said, "People, as well as party workers, will forever fondly and proudly remember his stint as the CM between 2013 and 2018 and 2023 and 2026, as well as his role twice as the leader of the Opposition."
"His dedication to social justice, administrative acumen, commitment to the party's ideology and his complete trust in the party's leadership are an inspiration to every Congress worker and an example to follow," it said.
"The Congress party and the government will always follow in his footsteps. We thank him from the bottom of our hearts. We will always wish for his continued guidance and support for the Congress party's aim of transformational development in every sector and the service of the people," it said.
On May 28, Siddaramaiah resigned as CM, describing the decision as voluntary and taken on the advice of the party leadership. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted his resignation the following day.
Before stepping down, Siddaramaiah met members of his Cabinet over breakfast. Photographs from the meeting showed Shivakumar seeking his blessings.
