New Delhi: In the midst of  the suspense over the next Karnataka Chief Minister's  name, Congress' state in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala categorically announced  that an announcement for the coveted post will be made by the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge within the next 48 to 72 hours,

 "The Congress president believes in three principles--consensus, unanimity, and unity," Surjewala said. After holding proper consideration, Kharge ji, who has been given permission by the Congress Legislature Party to designate the leader of the next legislature party (in Karnataka), would announce the name. He has discussions going on right now.We will soon have a new Congress Legislature Party leader, maybe today or tomorrow. Within the next 48 to 72 hours, Karnataka will have a new cabinet, Surjewala informed reporters. Surjewal took a shot at the BJP, saying, "Stop believing in BJP propelled propaganda which is frustrated by the decisive defeat in Karnataka."

Karnataka would have a stable Congress government for five years, the Rajya Sabha MP declared. It will have a government devoted to harmony, progress, and peace.

In the first meeting of the state Cabinet, the Congress is committed to fulfilling its five guarantees, he continued. The party is dedicated to providing an honest, accountable, and transparent administration.

Former chief minister Siddaramaiah, one of the front-runners for the position of chief minister, met party leader Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day at the 10 Janpath home of his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Siddaramaiah, who has been camping in the national capital since Monday, resisted answering any of the reporters' questions about his meeting with Rahul, remaining 'tight-lipped' instead.

The former Congress leader was also seen by Karnataka Congress President DK Shivakumar, who is determined to stake his claim for the position of chief executive by attributing the party's stunning success in the Assembly elections to himself. 

Despite the party's overwhelming victory in the Karnataka Assembly elections, the party's high command is unable to decide on a new chief minister for the southern state.

Out of 224 constituencies, the Congress won 135 Assembly seats in the recently completed Karnataka elections.

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