BENGALURU: D K Shivakumar’s push to succeed Siddaramaiah gathered momentum after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra intervened, sources said. Shivakumar, despite multiple visits to the national capital in recent months, struggled to get Rahul’s ear on the reported arrangement under which he was expected to take over as CM midway through the govt’s tenure, sources said.The deputy CM then reached out to Priyanka, who persuaded both Rahul and Cong Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi to consider his claim to the chief ministership.Senior Congress MLA and administrative reforms commission chairperson RV Deshpande said Siddaramaiah had already conveyed his decision to colleagues, although several ministers and legislators urged him not to resign.While Rahul is said to have offered Siddaramaiah a Rajya Sabha berth and a larger national role in the party, the 77-year-old isn’t keen to shift to Delhi politics, sources said. With Rajya Sabha nominations possible until June 8, the Congress brass is expected to continue persuading him.Sources said that before submitting his resignation, Siddaramaiah would address a presser. Shivakumar, who returned to Bengaluru Wednesday from Delhi, will be part of the breakfast meeting, they said. The transition plan gathered pace after marathon discussions in Delhi. The CM evaded questions about the developments. “I will speak everything tomorrow,” Siddaramaiah said after paying floral tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru at Vidhana Soudha on the former PM’s death anniversary. State home minister G Parameshwara and PWD minister Satish Jarkiholi said there would be clarity after an official announcement. (Inputs from Sandeep Moudgal)
