After a thumping victory of the Congress in the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka (135 seats in the 224-member Assembly), the party faces an uphill task of naming the Chief Minister from the two rivals — former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar.

Although the Congress is working on a “formula” to keep its flock together, the power play for the CM chair has kept the Congress leadership busy dousing the firefighting.

Following which Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar were called to Delhi for further discussion on the Government formation.

While, Siddaramaiah arrived on Monday afternoon in the national Capital, Shivakumar cancelled his visit hours after confirming he would be flying to Delhi, fuelling speculation that the factional fighting in Karnataka Congress had reared its head again. Shivakumar cited health reasons for the change in his travel plans. 

“I have some problem in the stomach. Doctor is coming in ten minutes. It’s burning. It looks like some infection and I have a fever..... Please let me be free....” he told reporters. Sources close to him confirmed he is not going to Delhi on Monday. 

However, late on Monday night, Shivakumar said he shall visit Delhi on Tuesday.

Amid speculation about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CM’s post, Shivakumar earlier on Monday said his strength is 135 (the number of MLAs the Congress has won), as under his presidency in the State the party had won the seats.

The move by Shivakumar, seen by many as a “pressure tactic” to assert his claim on the top post, indicated that the leadership war in the southern State is far from over.

Sources close to Shivakumar said he had conveyed to the leadership that in case the party decides for a rational CM, then there should be a written commitment for entry and exit. 

According to sources, Shivakumar came to know that the high command was considering the Lingayat leader as the next CM. Though the party did not announce the name till late on Monday as it was informed that the final call has to be taken by the party’s first family members — Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. 

The deliberations in Delhi were preceded by intensive consultations, one-on-one interaction with MLAs and even a “secret ballot” in Bengaluru during and after the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party.

The CLP had on Sunday passed a resolution authorising party president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the chief ministerial nominee. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have never hid their CM ambitions Supporters of both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar had raised slogans projecting them as the next chief minister outside the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party on Sunday evening.

A poster war by supporters of both leaders also erupted soon after the party won the election. While Siddaramaiah is a leader with mass appeal, is popular among all sections and has the experience of running a Government of a full five-year term from 2013-18, Shivakumar has strong organisational capabilities, is considered resourceful and Congress’ troubleshooter during tough times and has the backing of the dominant Vokkaliga community, its influential seers and leaders.

Congress MP Naseer Hussain told reporters that both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are senior Congress leaders and have fought together against the BJP.

“Both led this fight from the front, both did their best to strengthen the party. Both have contributed to the victory of the Congress, but only one can become the Karnataka chief minister. Let us see what is the opinion of the members of the CLP,” he told reporters outside Kharge’s residence.

The meeting of the Congress legislators on Sunday evening amidst heavy sloganeering by party workers for their favourable choice had authorized Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the name of the next Chief Minister of Karnataka for which several rounds of meeting were conducted till late Monday evening yet remained inconclusive as signs of uneasiness flowed during the day.

 The CLP meeting was attended by leaders like Siddaramaiah, DK Shivakumar, AICC General Secretaries KC Venugopal, and Jairam Ramesh while Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and party leaders Jitendra Singh and Deepak Babaria were present as observers in the meeting. The observers submitted their report to Kharge in Delhi and later a separate meeting was held between him and Siddaramaiah.

 Shivakumar was locked in an intense power struggle with Siddaramaiah after Congress stormed to power in Karnataka.  Amid speculations about the number of MLAs supporting him and Siddaramaiah for the CM’s post, Shivakumar said his strength is 135, as under his presidency, the party won the said number of Assembly segments.

Responding to discussions about him being adamant about the CM post, Shivakumar said, “Let whoever discuss whatever they want. I don’t bother. I won’t answer you or anyone else’s discussion. I have a sense of time, patience, and courage to fight.”

About Siddaramaiah’s alleged claims that maximum MLAs are supporting him in the CM’s race, Shivakumar said he doesn’t know about the secret ballot and the opinion of the MLAs.