Karnataka CM-designate Shivakumar invites Kharge, Rahul to lay foundation of KPCC Bhavan
Bengaluru, May 31
Karnataka Chief Minister-designate DK Shivakumar on Sunday said that he has invited Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha MP Rahul Gandhi to lay the foundation stone of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Bhavan after his swearing-in ceremony.
Shivakumar inspected the site in Bengaluru, where the KPCC Bhavan is slated to be constructed.
He told reporters, "On the eve of 100 years of Gandhi ji becoming the President, we decided to have 100 offices throughout the state. The time did not permit us to perform the Bhoomi Puja. So, on the day after the swearing-in ceremony, I am requesting Rahul ji and Mallikarjun Kharge ji to come here and lay the foundation. I will send the invitations."
Further, he noted that the party will be unable to accommodate all the leaders at the Lok Bhavan, and has decided to live-stream the oath-taking ceremony.
"Since we are unable to accommodate our leaders at the Lok Bhavan, the live stream will be from here. All our workers and our leaders can also watch from here. I am also inviting all other religious leaders to be a part of this event," he said.
When asked if other leaders would be sworn in with him, he said, "I don't know. Whatever the party high command decides will happen."
Shivakumar, after his three-year stint as the Deputy Chief Minister, is set to assume the office as the Karnataka CM. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for June 3 at Lok Bhavan in Bengaluru.
Shivakumar formally submitted a letter to Karnataka Governor Thawarchand Gehlot informing him about 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 immediately, but asked Siddaramaiah to continue until the new government is sworn in.
Meanwhile, Congress chief 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 that there was no proposal to induct ministers in the new cabinet as of now. However, he informed about a second phase of inducting ministers in the cabinet, which will come after 15 days or a month.
"The proposal hasn't arrived yet--whether it's eight or 10 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.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The live-streaming idea is practical, given space constraints. But why not involve local MLAs and party workers more directly? The party high command seems to be calling all shots. Hope the second phase of cabinet expansion doesn't create factionalism. Karnataka needs stability, not power games.
Waiting for the swearing-in! DKS has done good work as Deputy CM, but being CM is a different ball game altogether. The decision to invite religious leaders shows inclusive approach. Let's hope the new government prioritizes farmers' issues and water management. 🤞
The whole process seems rushed. First Siddaramaiah resigns, then Shivakumar takes over, and now cabinet formation is delayed with a second phase planned. This lack of clarity doesn't inspire confidence. Congress should have planned this transition better instead of making it look last-minute.
Interesting to see how Shivakumar balances the Vokkaliga and Lingayat equations. The KPCC Bhavan foundation is symbolic, but the real foundation will be his governance. I appreciate that he's including all leaders and religious groups. Let's see if he can deliver on promises of development and transparency. 😊
I'm glad they're live-streaming so workers can watch. But honestly, the party should focus on connecting with the public first. We need a CM who listens to common people, not just senior leaders. The delay in cabinet formation is worrying - hope it's not a sign of internal tussle. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.