Congress observers meet Mallikarjun Kharge, discuss government formation in Karnataka

New Delhi: A day after holding discussions with the newly elected MLAs in Bengaluru, three central observers of the Congress met party chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence on Monday evening and discussed government formation in Karnataka.

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, party general secretary Jitendra Singh and party leader Deepak Babaria along with party general secretary, organization KC Venugopal and general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala met Kharge at his residence.

Shinde, Singh and Bavaria were appointed as observers for the Karnataka CLP meeting by Kharge on Sunday afternoon. The observers had returned from Bengaluru on Monday afternoon after holding discussions with party legislators in the state on Sunday evening. He had a one-on-one interaction with the newly elected MLAs in Bengaluru late on Sunday night.

Party sources indicated that the observers apprised Kharge of the views of the new chief minister and the legislators on government formation in Karnataka. Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader BK Hariprasad said that ‘secret ballot’ was used for voting in the Congress Legislature Party meeting and a decision on the chief minister would be taken soon on that report.

“Yes, during the CLP meeting a secret ballot was used for voting in Karnataka. And then a one line resolution was passed authorizing Kharge to call on the CLP leader.”

He said that all the observers have gone to Delhi as the process of electing a new chief minister has to be completed. “The report will be submitted to the Congress president and on the basis of that report, Khargeji will have to appoint the next chief minister of the state,” Hariprasad said. The Congress leadership has called both the top contenders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for further discussions. Siddaramaiah has reached the national capital but is yet to meet Kharge.