KARNATAKA CM RACE HEATS UP: All eyes on Congress top brass

Siddaramaiah leaves for Delhi to meet with AICC leaders, Shivakumar cancels visit

NEW DELHI/ BENGALURU: The suspense over the new Karnataka Chief Minister intensified on Monday as state Congress president D K Shivakumar cancelled his visit to the national Capital citing health issues after he and Siddaramaiah, both frontrunners for the top post, were called by the central leadership for discussions.

The three Central observers, who interacted with party MLAs on their choice for the CM’s post after the Congress Legislature Party meeting on Sunday, briefed party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and submitted their report.

After the meeting, Randeep Surjewala, AICC in-charge for Karnataka, told reporters that the party will announce its decision by Tuesday evening.

“The observers have submitted the report to the Congress president. We will hold consultations with all senior state leaders, including Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, and after that a decision will be taken by the Congress president,” he said.

Former CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were called by the party high command for further discussion on government formation. Siddaramaiah arrived on Monday afternoon in the national Capital but Shivakumar cancelled his visit, hours after confirming he would be flying to Delhi, fuelling speculation that the factional fighting in Karnataka Congress had reared its head again.

Shivakumar cited health reasons for the change in his travel plans but sources said he is likely to come to Delhi on Tuesday.