Congress in dilemma over new Karnataka Chief Minister

New Delhi: The Congress high command is in a tight spot over the choice of new Karnataka Chief Minister and is holding a series of deliberations at the residence of the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge here.

A 'closed-door' meeting was convened by the Congress president, in presence of party leader Rahul Gandhi and party's Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Tuesday in this regard.

The latest development comes after Surjewala last night informed that the party's central observers who had gone to Karnataka and held deliberations with its MLAs, and three others including two Independent, submitted their report to Kharge and added that the latter will look into it and take a decision on the choice of CM.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar, who is one of the front runners for the CM post, before leaving for Kharge's residence after he arrived in the national capital, told reporters,"I have to meet all the party leaders. First, I will meet the Congress president."

"Some of them are reporting that I will resign.... all this is ... My mother is my party . We have built this party. My high command is there. My party is there. Our MLAs are 135," said Shivakumar, who is determined to stake his claim for the CM post, by crediting himself for the party's stupendous victory in the Assembly polls.

It may be mentioned that another front runner for the CM post, former Karnataka Chief Minister and Congress stalwart, Siddaramaiah, has been camping in the national capital since Monday.

Siddaramaiah is also likely to meet the party's top brass on Tuesday.

In the recently concluded Karnataka polls, the Congress won 135 Assembly seats out of 224 constituencies. (UNI)