The stage is set for the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka Chief Minister-designate Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar on Saturday at 12.30 pm at the Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru.
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, who came from Bengaluru along with general secretary in-charge Randeep Surjewala, held discussions with the party leadership in Delhi and discussed government formation and some names of ministers and their portfolios are believed to have been shortlisted.
closed door meetings
Siddaramaiah, along with AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Surjewala attended a closed-door meeting to discuss possible cabinet members. Later, DK Shivakumar joined them for further discussions. After an hour of deliberations, Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar, Surjewala and Venugopal met Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath, where they held wide-ranging talks for over one-and-a-half hours. In addition, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar formally extended invitations to Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the upcoming swearing-in ceremony.
After meeting Rahul Gandhi, Surjewala and Vengugopal went to party chief Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence where they are said to have finalized the list of ministers, which sources said would be around 20. Venugopal had earlier said that a group of ministers would also take oath. ,
The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) held a meeting on Thursday where Siddaramaiah was formally elected as its leader. Thereafter, he staked claim to the Governor and received an invitation to form the government.
About the presence of opposition leaders, Shivakumar said, “We have requested our AICC president to take care of it. For us, the first priority is the Congress President and the Gandhi family, and we are here to invite them personally.”
representation from departments, all communities
With no official announcement, reports suggest that only a few ministers are expected to take oath. The new cabinet is likely to ensure representation from all regions of the state and different sections of the society including SC, ST, OBC, minorities, women. , youth, as well as the dominant communities of Lingayats and Vokkaligas. Sources said DK Shivakumar, who belongs to the Vokkaliga community, is among those involved in cabinet formation.
Shivakumar has assured that the promises made to the people of Karnataka by leaders like Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi will be fulfilled in the first cabinet meeting itself. Newly elected MLA Priyanka Kharge, who is a potential minister, met Shivakumar at her brother’s residence. Before leaving for Delhi, Shivakumar reiterated that fulfilling the promises made to the public was his top priority. He further stressed on unity and said, “We will work unitedly; No speculation needed. We will keep you updated on cabinet and other matters.”
Opposition unity in swearing-in ceremony
Siddaramaiah’s swearing-in ceremony as the Chief Minister of Karnataka will see a display of opposition unity with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar, National Conference President Farooq Abdullah and several other leaders in attendance. BJP Block. The gathering symbolizes the collective effort for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress President M Mallikarjun Kharge has extended invitation to leaders of various political parties including JMM, RJD, Shiv Sena, SP, PDP, CPI, MDMK, RSP, CPI(ML), VCK, RLD, Kerala Congress. and IUML, for the swearing-in ceremony. Senior Congress leader and former Union minister M Veerappa Moily said: “It (the swearing-in ceremony) can also be a launchpad for opposition unity and a show of strength and solidarity”.
However, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala criticized the Congress for not inviting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, saying it showed the grand old party’s immaturity and political fragility.
While the event is aimed at promoting opposition unity, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee will not be in attendance, making her absence conspicuous.
Siddaramaiah faces cabinet balancing act
The initial challenge Siddaramaiah is expected to face is the formation of a cabinet that ensures balanced representation of various communities, regions, factions as well as a mix of veteran and fresh legislators. With a sanctioned strength of 34, there is intense competition among many candidates aspiring for ministerial posts.
On the first day of assuming power in the state, the Congress has promised to fulfill a series of “guarantees” to the people. These include providing 200 units of free electricity (griha jyoti) to all families, providing monthly assistance of Rs 2,000. Offering 10 kg of free rice to each member of the female head of each household (Griha Lakshmi), Below Poverty Line (BPL) household (Anna Bhagya), Rs 3,000 per month for graduate youth and Rs 1,500 for diploma holders (between in) the age of 18 and 25) for a period of two years (Yuvanidhi), and ensuring free travel for women in public transport buses (Shakti). The Congress is determined to implement these promises from the moment it assumes power in the state.
(With inputs from PTI)