Karnataka to get new Chief Minister within 48 hours: Congress

New Delhi: Amid the suspense over the next Karnataka Chief Minister's name, Congress' state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday categorically said that announcement for the coveted post will be made by party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge within next 48 to 72 hours.

"Congress president believes in three principles-- consensus, unanimity and unity. Kharge ji, who has been authorised to appoint the leader of the next legislatureparty (in Karnataka) by the Congress Legislature Party will announce the name after holding due deliberations. Deliberations are currently being held by him.It's only a matter of today or tomorrow, we will have a new leader of the Congress Legislature Party. We will have a new cabinet in Karnataka within next 48 to72 hours," Surjewala told reporters here.

The Rajya Sabha MP said, "Karnataka will have a five year stable Congress government. It will have a government which will be committed to peace, progressand harmony."

He added, "The Congress is committed to fullfill its five guarantees in the first sitting of the state Cabinet. The party is committed to give a clean, transparentand a responsible government."

Taking a swipe at the BJP, Surjewal said, "Stop believing in BJP propelled propaganda which is frustrated by the decisive defeat in Karnataka."

Earlier in the day, former CM Siddaramaiah, who is one of the front runners for the CM post, met party leader Rahul Gandhi at the 10 Janpath residence of his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi,

Siddaramaiah, who has been camping in the national capital since Monday, remained 'tight-lipped' despite being posed a volley of questions by the reporters about his meeting with Rahul.

Karnataka Congress president DK 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, also met the former Congress chief here.

Meanwhile, he also met the Congress president at his residence here.

The Congress high command is in a tight spot over the choice of new Karnataka CM despite the party's stupendous victory in the Assembly polls in the southern state.

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