Ahead of swearing-in, DK Shivakumar to meet Congress high command on cabinet formation

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister-designate DK Shivakumar will hold a meeting with the Congress high command on Monday to discuss cabinet berths ahead of the oath-taking ceremony, news agency ANI reported, citing sources.

This comes after DKS's predecessor Siddaramaiah reportedly handed over a list of his loyalists for cabinet berths after deciding to step down.

According to PTI, Siddaramaiah has sought a cabinet berth and a key portfolio for his son Yathindra. He is also learnt to have submitted a list of loyalists he wants accommodated in the new cabinet.

Sources further told PTI that the Congress is likely to undertake a reorganisation of the party structure in the state, a process in which Siddaramaiah — considered the party's tallest leader in Karnataka — is expected to play a major role.

Earlier in the day, DKS said he does not know how many leaders will be inducted into his cabinet and take oath with him on June 3.

"I don't know. Whatever the party high command decides will happen," the Congress leader said when asked if other leaders would be sworn in alongside him.

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said that the number of ministers and deputy chief ministers in the new Karnataka cabinet is yet to be finalised.

Talking to reporters at Kalaburagi airport, Kharge said, "We have to see. No proposal has come yet. Once it does, we'll decide how many ministers and deputy chief ministers to appoint. We'll know more after June 3."

The Congress chief said there was no proposal to induct ministers into the new cabinet as of now. However, he spoke of a second phase of inductions, which could take place after 15 days or a month.

"The proposal hasn't arrived yet — whether it's eight or ten is still unknown. Once we have it, we'll proceed with the first phase accordingly. There's a plan to appoint the remaining members in a second phase, perhaps fifteen days or a month later," he said.

Shivakumar, after his three-year stint as deputy chief minister, is set to assume office as Karnataka chief minister. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for June 3 at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru.

DK Shivakumar formally submitted a letter to Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot informing him of his unanimous election as CLP leader. This came after the voluntary resignation of former chief minister Siddaramaiah on May 28.

The Governor dissolved the previous council of ministers but asked Siddaramaiah to continue until the new government is sworn in.