D.K. Shivakumar meets Karnataka Governor ahead of CLP meeting on CM pick
Synopsis
Karnataka's next government is taking shape fast. D.K. Shivakumar visited the Governor hours before the CLP meeting, reportedly locking in swearing-in logistics with June 3 as the frontrunner date — even as a fierce multi-community scramble for Deputy CM posts threatens to complicate what Congress hoped would be a clean transition.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan, Bengaluru on 30 May ahead of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting.
Sources say June 3 is the most likely date for the swearing-in ceremony, with June 1 and June 5 also under consideration.
The oath-taking venue is reportedly being decided between the steps of Vidhana Soudha and Raj Bhavan .
Between 12 and 14 legislators are expected to be sworn in as ministers alongside the new Chief Minister.
Intense lobbying is under way for the Deputy Chief Minister post, with claimants from the Lingayat , Scheduled Caste , and Muslim communities all in contention.
The party leadership is also reportedly considering having no Deputy Chief Minister at all, given the competing claims.
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D.K. Shivakumar, the frontrunner for the Chief Minister's post, called on Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru on Saturday, 30 May, holding an informal discussion ahead of the high-stakes Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting. His brother and former Congress MP D.K. Suresh accompanied him for the meeting.
What Was Discussed
Sources close to Shivakumar indicated that the meeting centred on logistical arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony, should he be elevated to Chief Minister. The visit carried added urgency as Governor Gehlot was scheduled to depart for the temple town of Dharmasthala later in the afternoon.
According to sources, astrologers have suggested June 1, June 3, and June 5 as auspicious dates for the oath-taking ceremony. Shivakumar is understood to have discussed these dates with the Governor to finalise a suitable slot. Deliberations reportedly also covered whether the ceremony should be held on the grand steps of Vidhana Soudha or at Raj Bhavan. Sources indicated that June 3 is emerging as the most likely date, and the Governor's office has been informed accordingly.
Deputy CM Race Heats Up
Even as the Chief Minister question remains formally unresolved, intense lobbying has begun within the party for the Deputy Chief Minister's post. Senior leaders M.B. Patil and Eshwar Khandre, both from the Lingayat community, are said to be staking their claims.
Former Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader from coastal Karnataka, veteran Congress MLA Tanveer Sait from Mysuru district, and former minister Zameer Ahmad Khan — a close associate of caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah — are also reportedly in the running. Notably, both Khader and Sait did not get Cabinet berths during the previous Siddaramaiah government. Sait had recently stated he would not be unhappy over Siddaramaiah's resignation from the top post.
Senior leaders G. Parameshwara and H.C. Mahadevappa, both from the Scheduled Caste community, are also hopeful. There is additional speculation that the Congress high command may consider a role for Siddaramaiah's son, Yathindra Siddaramaiah. However, sources said the party leadership is also weighing the option of not creating any Deputy Chief Minister posts at all, given the competing claims from multiple communities and factions.
Cabinet Size and CLP Timeline
Sources indicated that between 12 and 14 legislators are likely to be sworn in as ministers alongside the new Chief Minister. The CLP meeting is scheduled for 4 pm on Saturday.
Caretaker Chief Minister Siddaramaiah spent the morning receiving public grievances at his Cauvery residence before travelling to Pavagada town in Tumakuru district to attend the final rites of former minister Venkataramanappa. He is expected to return to Bengaluru by 1:40 pm to participate in the CLP meeting.
What Happens Next
The CLP meeting will formally elect the legislature party leader, paving the way for a government formation. With the swearing-in date likely set for June 3, the Congress high command faces a tight window to resolve the Chief Minister question and manage the competing Deputy CM aspirants before the ceremony.
Point of View
Which tells you something about how settled the outcome is considered at the top. The more revealing story, however, is the Deputy CM scramble: with Lingayat, Scheduled Caste, and Muslim community leaders all staking claims, the Congress high command faces the same social arithmetic that has historically made Karnataka governments unwieldy. The option of no Deputy CM is a pressure valve, not a solution — it defers the community balancing act rather than resolving it, and those debts tend to come due mid-term.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did D.K. Shivakumar meet the Karnataka Governor before the CLP meeting?
Shivakumar met Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at Raj Bhavan on 30 May to reportedly discuss logistical arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony, including possible dates and venue. The meeting was held ahead of the CLP meeting and before the Governor's scheduled departure for Dharmasthala.
What is the likely date for the Karnataka government swearing-in ceremony?
According to sources, June 3 is emerging as the most likely date for the oath-taking ceremony. Astrologers had suggested June 1, June 3, and June 5 as auspicious options, and the Governor's office has reportedly been informed of the June 3 preference.
Who are the contenders for the Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister post?
Several senior Congress leaders are in the running, including M.B. Patil and Eshwar Khandre from the Lingayat community, former Assembly Speaker U.T. Khader, MLA Tanveer Sait, former minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, and Scheduled Caste leaders G. Parameshwara and H.C. Mahadevappa. The party is also reportedly weighing whether to create any Deputy CM post at all.
What is the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting and why does it matter?
The CLP meeting brings together all newly elected Congress MLAs to formally elect their legislature party leader, who will then be invited by the Governor to form the government. The outcome of this meeting will determine who becomes Karnataka's next Chief Minister.
What is caretaker CM Siddaramaiah's role in the transition?
Siddaramaiah continues as caretaker Chief Minister until a new government is sworn in. He was attending the final rites of former minister Venkataramanappa in Pavagada, Tumakuru district on Saturday and was expected back in Bengaluru by 1:40 pm to attend the 4 pm CLP meeting.
