Bengaluru

The Karnataka Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has convened a meeting on Saturday evening as the party moves towards formalising a leadership change in the state following the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

According to a letter issued by CLP Secretary Allamaprabhu Patil, the meeting will be held at 4 pm at the Sammelana Sabhangana (Conference Hall), Room No. 334, on the third floor of Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru.

The meeting will be presided over by Siddaramaiah in his role as Leader of the Congress Legislature Party.

The communication stated that Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president D K Shivakumar, AICC general secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala, Legislative Council Leader of the House N S Boseraju and all working presidents of the party will attend the meeting.

“All members are requested to attend the meeting compulsorily,” the letter said.

The development comes at a crucial time as the Congress prepares to elect a new CLP leader and initiate the process of forming a fresh government in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister and KPCC chief D K Shivakumar is widely expected to be chosen as the next Chief Minister after Siddaramaiah stepped down from the post.

The CLP meeting follows Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot’s acceptance of Siddaramaiah’s resignation and the dissolution of the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. However, Siddaramaiah has been asked to continue as caretaker Chief Minister until alternative arrangements are finalised.

Meanwhile, political activity within the Congress has intensified over cabinet formation and allocation of ministerial positions.

Leaders from Kolar district have urged the party high command to ensure greater representation for the district in the new cabinet.

Seven Congress leaders from the district, including three MLAs and two MLCs, submitted a letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge seeking three ministerial berths.

The leaders recommended Bangarpet MLA S N Narayanaswamy for a cabinet position under the Scheduled Caste (Right) category, while also demanding ministerial posts for Malur MLA K Y Nanje Gowda and Kolar MLA Kothur G Manjunath under the general category.

The letter was signed by MLAs S N Narayanaswamy, K Y Nanje Gowda and Kothur G Manjunath, MLCs Naseer Ahmed and Anil Kumar, former Mulbagal Assembly candidate V Adinarayana and former District Congress Committee president K Chandra Reddy.

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At the same time, speculation has grown regarding the possible role of senior Congress leader Satish Jarkiholi in the new political arrangement. Party circles are discussing the possibility of Jarkiholi being considered either for a Deputy Chief Minister’s post or the position of KPCC president.