Siddaramaiah to be sworn in as Karnataka CM today

Siddaramaiah, who led the Congress' battle against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Karnataka, will take oath tomorrow as the chief minister of the state.

The 64-year-old Siddaramaiah will be sworn in alone by Governor H R Bhardwaj at a ceremony at Sri Kanteerava Stadium, where 50,000 people from his home district, Mysore, and nearby areas are expected to attend.

He was chosen on Friday as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader in a contested race, edging out party veteran and Union labour minister, M Mallikarjun Kharge.

Though Siddaramaiah was the front-runner for the post, his selection came only after All India Congress Committee (AICC) observers, headed by Defence Minister A K Antony asked party legislators to express their choice in writing.

After taking the consent of AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi and party Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, Antony announced the name of Siddaramaiah, who had joined the Congress from the JD(S) six years ago and was a deputy chief minister twice earlier.

A lawyer-turned politician, Siddaramaiah had narrowly missed the chief minister's "gaddi" in 1996 after the incumbent H D Deve Gowda went on to become Prime Minister.

Siddaramaiah, who hails from Kuruba community, the third largest in the state, was then pipped by J H Patel. Both under Deve Gowda and Patel, he served as finance minister.

With Siddaramaiah all set to install his Cabinet next week, lobbying for ministerial berths has intensified.

Senior party leaders, including D K Shivakumar, R V Deshpande, Shamanur Shivashankarappa and T B Jayachandra are likely to get plum ministries in the Cabinet, sources said.

However, expanding the Cabinet and keeping everyone happy would be a tight-rope walk for Siddaramaiah.

Of the 120 Congress legislators, there are at least 34 former ministers. With the Karnataka Assembly having a strength of 224 members, the council of ministers can have a maximum of 34 members, including the chief minister.

Siddaramaiah and KPCC president G Parameshwara who discussed Cabinet expansion, are expected to meet party brass in Delhi tomorrow to get a final nod for the ministry formation.

Battered by a series of scams at the national stage, Congress put up an impressive show in the May 8 Assembly elections winning 121 seats, unseating the BJP.

Election has been postponed in Periyapatna Assembly constituency due to the demise of BJP candidate Sanmoggegowda. The polls is scheduled on May 28 and counting will take place on May 31.