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A formal Congress Legislature Party meeting has been scheduled for Saturday at 4 pm in Bengaluru ahead of Shivakumar’s oath ceremony as CM.
DK Shivakumar Likely to Take Oath on June 3 With 8-10 Ministers; Full Cabinet After RS Polls.
The Congress high command is working on the final details of a leadership transition in Karnataka, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar likely to be sworn in as the next chief minister on June 3.
According to Congress sources, around eight to 10 ministers are expected to take oath along with Shivakumar. The remaining cabinet expansion is likely to take place after June 18, following the conclusion of the Rajya Sabha election process.
Meanwhile, sources also indicated that Y S Sharmila is being considered for a Rajya Sabha berth from Karnataka, although a final decision is yet to be taken.
The transition follows the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and comes as the party seeks to ensure a smooth transfer of power ahead of the next phase of governance in the state.
Delhi meetings
Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were in New Delhi on Friday, where they met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior party leader Rahul Gandhi.
A key meeting took place at Rahul Gandhi’s residence at 10 Janpath, where Siddaramaiah is learnt to have informed him that he had fulfilled his commitment to step down as chief minister, clearing the way for the transition. Sources said Siddaramaiah met only Rahul Gandhi, as Sonia Gandhi was not present during the discussion. He is also understood to have sought cabinet positions for his son and loyalists in the new government, including the post of deputy chief minister.
CLP meeting today
A formal Congress Legislature Party meeting has been scheduled for Saturday at 4 pm in Bengaluru. Senior AICC observers, including K. C. Venugopal and Randeep Surjewala, will oversee the proceedings.
MLAs are expected to formally elect the new legislature party leader, after which the date of the swearing-in ceremony will be officially confirmed.
50% of cabinet may be new faces
The Congress leadership is also planning a major reshuffle of the cabinet.
Senior party leaders, including Chief Whip Saleem Ahmed and former minister M Veerappa Moily, have suggested that nearly half of the ministerial positions should go to new faces. Ahmed said the party intends to introduce fresh leadership as part of preparations for the 2028 Assembly elections.
‘Kamaraj Plan’
Congress leaders are also discussing a modified version of the “Kamaraj Plan”.
Under the proposal, ministers who have completed three years in office could be removed from the cabinet and assigned organisational responsibilities within the party. Ahmed said experienced ministers would be encouraged to strengthen the party structure at the grassroots level.
4 deputy CMs possible
To maintain regional, social and caste balance, Congress sources said the high command is considering appointing four deputy chief ministers under Shivakumar’s leadership.
Karnataka, India, India
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