Outgoing Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called a Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting at 4 PM today to elect its new leader, with D.K. Shivakumar emerging as the frontrunner to succeed him.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has accepted Mr Siddaramaiah’s resignation and asked him to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister until a new leader is elected.

All 136 Congress MLAs have been issued a circular to attend the CLP meeting. AICC General Secretary and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala will observe the proceedings.

After the new CLP leader is elected, he will meet the Governor and stake claim to form the government. The date for the swearing-in ceremony of the new Council of Ministers is also expected to be finalised thereafter.

Meanwhile, the cabinet formation exercise has already begun, with several aspirants vying for ministerial berths.