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 despite party's stupendous victory in the Assembly polls in the Southern state.

Amid the suspense over the coveted post, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Tuesday held hectic parleys at his residence here.

Kharge met one of the front runners for the CM post, former Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, here this evening.

Siddaramaiah, who has been camping in the national capital since Monday, did not make any remarks after meeting Kharge.

Kharge also met Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar, another front runner for the CM post at his residence here.

Shivakumar before leaving for Kharge's residence after he arrived in the national capital in the afternoon, 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.

Earlier in the day, 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 had earlier 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.

He informed that the Congress chief will look into the report besides holding deliberations, and then will take a call on the CM's post.

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