Highlights: Karnataka Dilemma Deepens With DK Shivakumar Adamant On Top Job

Security was stepped up in Ramanagara, the home district of Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar, on Wednesday as a precautionary measure in light of his supporters staging protests at multiple places after some media outlets claimed that he lost the race for the Chief Minister's post to Siddaramaiah. An alert has been sounded in Ramanagara where police personnel were deployed at important public places and the district Congress office to prevent any untoward incident, official sources said. The police presence was beefed up in particular in Kanakapura where Mr Shivakumar hails from and got re-elected in the May 10 polls. (PTI)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and party chief Mallikarjun Kharge have offered two options to DK Shivakumar, all but the Chief Minister's post, according to sources. However, the Karnataka Congress chief remains adamant on the top job, the sources said.

The first offer is the sole deputy Chief Minister's post and six ministries of his choice, along with the Karnataka Congress chief's post staying with him. The second is a sharing agreement for the top post, with Siddaramaiah being the Chief Minister for the first 2.5 years, the sources said.

DK Shivakumar is meeting his supporters right now at his brother's residence in Delhi. He also dismissed the reports running on channels.

Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar leaves without addressing the media after meeting party national chief Mallikarjun Kharge

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said today that a decision to select the new Chief Minister of Karnataka will be taken in the next 48 to 72 hours. 

With Congress poised to name the next Karnataka chief minister after the party's win in the state Assembly elections, Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar on Wednesday arrived at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence in Delhi after meeting party leader Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier in the day, Mr Shivakumar arrived at 10 Janpath to meet Rahul Gandhi in the national capital.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge has held talks with all stakeholders in the State. Rahul Gandhi met Mr Kharge on Tuesday to discuss government formation in the southern state.

Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Basavaraj Bommai on Wednesday said that the ongoing suspense over the chief ministerial face by Congress shows the "internal situation" in the party.

Congress has been holding deliberations over the Karnataka chief minister's post, following the party's win in the assembly polls on May 13. Top contenders for the post including DK Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah have been camping in the national capital, meeting the party's top leaders.

Speaking to the media, Basavaraj Bommai said that the Congress party should choose a chief minister at the soonest.

"Congress is yet to finalise its Chief Minister candidate in spite of getting a majority. This shows the internal situation in the party. The aspirations of people are more important than politicking. Congress should choose a chief minister as soon as possible," Mr Bommai said.

Congress leader DK Shivakumar left party leader Rahul Gandhi's residence in Delhi following a meeting.

Karnataka's two chief ministerial aspirants Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar on Wednesday met Rahul Gandhi here separately amid hectic parleys in the Congress to decide on the candidate for the top post in the southern state.

With the suspense over the next Karnataka chief minister after Congress' win in the State assembly elections, veteran leader Siddaramaiah on Wednesday left Sonia Gandhi's residence in the national capital after meeting party leader Rahul Gandhi.

Earlier in the day, Mr Siddaramaiah arrived at 10 Janpath to meet Rahul Gandhi.

Later, DK Shivakumar also reached 10, Janpath to meet party leader Rahul Gandhi.