Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge

New Delhi: As a Congress leader DK Shivakumar The party president is preparing to take oath as the Chief Minister of Karnataka on June 3. Mallikarjun Kharge Sunday said she was still looking for the right person to replace her as the next Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president.Speaking to reporters at Kalaburagi airport, Kharge said the party is carefully considering its options and is looking for a leader who can strengthen the organization before the next assembly elections.Kharge said, “Naturally, after these people leave, someone else has to come. We are all searching. We have to look at good people and look at the combination and do it with a view to taking the party forward.”Elaborating on the qualities the party is looking for, he said the next state president should be able to work efficiently while keeping the organization united.He said, “Since now we have only 24 months, we have to find a leader who will work very fast and who will be collective and take everyone along. There should also be people who will support him. It is only after considering all this that we are doing this.”

Cabinet composition has not been finalized yet

Kharge also said that discussions on the composition of the new Karnataka Cabinet are still ongoing and no final proposal has been received regarding the number of ministers or deputy chief ministers.His comments come amid speculations over the composition of the new government after Shivakumar was unanimously elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party following the resignation of former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.“We will have to wait and see, no proposal has come yet. Once the proposal comes, how many ministers should be made, how many DCMs should be made, or if important, the Speaker should also be made along with it…” All these discussions have taken place. This will be known after June 3,” Kharge said.He also indicated that cabinet expansion may happen in phases.He said, “The proposal has not come yet. The idea is to take the remaining cabinet members in the next 15 days or a month. But what the Chief Minister thinks is not known yet.”Kharge’s comments come a day after DK Shivakumar formally informed Thaawarchand Gehlot of his unanimous election as CLP leader.The Governor accepted Siddaramaiah’s resignation and asked him to continue in office till the new government is sworn in.The swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Karnataka is scheduled to take place in Bengaluru on June 3.(With inputs from ANI)