DK Shivakumar, the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, said that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would meet in Bengaluru on Sunday evening to elect the new chief minister.

Karnataka Congress registered a thumping majority of 135 seats, defeating the ruling BJP, who won 66 seats in the assembly elections 2023. Soon after the counting, KPCC president DK Shivakumar tweeted, “Karnataka’s historic mandate for Congress Party is every leader and every worker’s win. Without their efforts and hard work, we wouldn’t be celebrating this victory at KPCC office, today. #KarnatakaElectionResults2023.”

Later, the Congress leader also announced that the CLP meeting will be held at 6:05 pm.  DK Shivakumar tweeted, “Post Congress party’s thumping victory in Karnataka, we are looking forward to having our CLP meeting tomorrow at 6:05pm, at Shangri La hotel.”

Now all eyes are who the next Chief Minister of the state will be. The Congress has not yet revealed its CM candidate. Former CM Siddaramaiah and KPCC chief DK Shivakumar are the front runners for the post. Other names in the fray are G Parameshwara and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.

Before the assembly elections, there were reports of a rift between Siddaramaiah and Shivaakumar, both leaders had denied reports of differences. Talking about it, Siddu said, “He is an aspirant, I’m also an aspirant. In a democracy, anyone can have aspirations. I don’t think it is wrong to have an aspiration in democracy. The opinion will be collected after the election; based on the opinion of the MLAs the high command will take a decision.”