Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday was appointed as a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), a day ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of chief minister-designate D K Shivakumar.
In a statement, the Congress said party president Mallikarjun Kharge has appointed Siddaramaiah to the party’s highest decision-making body with immediate effect.
The announcement comes shortly after Siddaramaiah’s resignation as Chief Minister and amid final discussions within the party leadership over the formation of the new Karnataka cabinet.
On Tuesday, senior Congress leaders held day-long deliberations with Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to finalise the composition of the new council of ministers, according to party sources.
The swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister is scheduled for Wednesday and is expected to be attended by several senior leaders, including former Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
Congress leaders and chief ministers from several states, including Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand, are also expected to attend the event, along with other opposition leaders.
The appointment of Siddaramaiah to the CWC is seen as a significant organisational role for the veteran leader following the transition in the state leadership.
