In Larger Interest of Party: DK Shivakumar Confirms Siddaramaiah As New Karnataka CM

Karnataka Congress Chief D.K. Shivakumar, who has been given the post of Deputy CM on Thursday said that he accepted the decision in the larger interest of the party.

"We have a commitment before the people of Karnataka. Parliament elections are ahead. So, I have to bow to the party president and the Gandhi family. So, in the larger interest of the party, I have agreed to the formula. Because sometimes the ice should break. Ultimately, there is a responsibility towards what we have a commitment to the people of Karnataka and we have to deliver," Shivakumar was quoted saying by news agency ANI.

After days of hectic parleys, the Congress has named Siddaramaiah as the chief minister of Karnataka. He is likely to take oath as the 30th chief minister of Karnataka on May 20.

However, Shivakumar's brother D.K. Suresh expressed unhappiness over the Congress move to appoint Siddaramaiah as CM but said that the decision was taken in the interest of Karnataka and the party.

"I am not fully happy but in the interest of Karnataka, we wanted to fulfil our commitment...That is why DK Shivakumar had to accept. In the future we will see, there is a long way to go. ...I wish it (CM post for DK Shivakumar) but it didn't happen, we will wait and see"," Suresh said.

D.K. Shivakumar, Known as Congress 'troubleshooter' was initially reluctant to leave the CM post during his negotiations with the party's high command. However, Sonia Gandhi played a pivotal role in convincing Shivakumar for the deputy CM post, ending days of uncertainty.