Here are the big stories from Karnataka today

Karnataka Today newsletter: The elusive question: Siddaramaiah or D.K. Shivakumar?, and more

As the meeting of the Congress’ central leadership to select the new Karnataka Chief Minister extends well into the third day with no conclusion in sight, speculations are rife that Siddaramaiah is leading the race to the post. Congress’ Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala has said that the Chief Minister’s name will be announced by Mallikarjun Kharge “maybe today or tomorrow after due deliberation”.

The Congress top brass are holding talks at the residence of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi has had back-to-back meetings with D.K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah to work out an acceptable formula to both sides.

Mr. Siddaramaiah is said to be the high command’s choice as he has the support of majority MLAs. However, Mr. Shivakumar — seen as the leader who revived the Congress after defections and desertions — has dug his heels in.

While Karnataka awaits confirmation of its next CM face, government and police officials began preparations for the swearing-in ceremony at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru based on a circular from the Raj Bhavan that Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot would administer the oath of office to Mr. Siddaramaiah on May 18.

However, the arrangements — which were being carried out in full swing — were abruptly stopped by late afternoon after it came to light that the authorities had relied on a fake circular and that there had been no official communique from the Raj Bhavan.

The ongoing tussle between Congress leaders D. K. Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah for the post of Chief Minister in Karnataka has crossed party lines. BJP leaders Dr. K. Sudhakar and S. T. Somashekhar, who were once considered close aides of Mr. Siddaramaiah, blamed the former Chief Minister for them quitting the Congress, which led to the collapse of the then Congress-JD(S) coalition government under H.D. Kumaraswamy.

In separate tweets, the leaders suggested that Mr. Siddaramaiah’s stand against the the Congress-JD(S) coalition government pushed them to quit the Congress.