Even after several rounds of discussion for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, the crisis within the Congress regarding the selection of the Chief Minister for Karnataka has continued.

After several meetings on Monday and Tuesday, including with Congress president Malliakarjun Kharge separately, Wednesday started with both former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Karnataka PCC chief DK Shivakumar meeting Rahul Gandhi separately at 10 Janpath in the morning. Shivakumar is also learnt to have talked on the phone to former party chief Sonia Gandhi, who is learnt to have told him to meet Kharge.

However, in the evening, all the Congress could inform the media was to wait for 48-78 hours for the party to announce the CM name along with full cabinet. Earlier the party had said the CM name shall be announced by Kharge in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

AICC general secretary in-charge for Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said, “It (the decision to name the CM) is a matter of today and tomorrow and we will have a leader of the legislature party. Within the next 48 to 72 hours, we will have a new cabinet in Karnataka and in the first cabinet meeting, we will implement the five Congress guarantees and begin the work of building grand Karnataka.”

Surjewala also mentioned that all Congress leaders have been advised not to issue statements on the leadership matter. “Any out of turn remarks made from here onwards will be treated as indiscipline and action taken accordingly,” Surjewala said.

The Karnataka PCC chief then met Kharge again and spent a good half an hour with him for the second day in a row. Surjewala was present at Kharge’s residence at the time.

A section of the top Congress leadership feels Siddaramaiah’s popularity among several sections, including the poor, OBCs and minorities, can get votes for the party in the Lok Sabha polls.

Surjewala said the party chief has been authorised to appoint the leader of the legislature party and that is why deliberations are underway.  “The Congress president believes in three principles — consensus, unanimity and unity. Mallikarjun Kharge, who has been authorised by the legislature party, will announce (the name of the leader) after holding due deliberations.”

Urging the media not to resort to speculation, he said, “I am here to quash multiple rumours and hearsay...That is being played on multiple news channels. Stop listening to rumours being planted by the BJP which is frustrated by the decisive defeat in Karnataka.

“The Congress is committed to the welfare of each Kannadiga, the Congress is committed to fulfilling its five guarantees, and the Congress is committed to implementing its agenda. The Congress is committed to giving a clean, transparent and responsible government.”