Bengaluru, May 18: A meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) began here on Thursday to formally elect Siddaramaiah as its leader and next Chief Minister.

Ending days of suspense, the Congress central leadership earlier on Thursday announced that Siddaramaiah would the chief minister, while state party president D K Shivakumar would be his only deputy in the soon-to-formed cabinet.

The meeting of newly-elected Congress MLAs, MLCs and MPs is taking place at Indira Gandhi Bhavan.

The two leaders who were in a tight race for the top post would take oath along with a group of ministers-designate on May 20.

The CLP had earlier met on May 14, a day after the announcement of poll results, during which a one-line resolution was passed, authorising AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the new Chief Minister.

ALSO READ: When people bat for their caste, caste struggle will go on: H D Kumaraswamy

Three central observers who had come that day had also gathered the opinions of the MLAs, which they shared with Kharge.

In the May 10 elections to the 224-member Assembly, the Congress scored an emphatic victory by bagging 135 seats, while the ruling BJP and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda-led Janata Dal (Secular) secured 66 and 19 seats respectively.

All the latest news from Karnataka, just one click away. CLICK here to read all the important news from Karnataka in a single click.

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Rajgir (Bihar), Nov 19: Defending champions India continued their unbeaten run and defeated Japan 2-0 to enter the final of the women's Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament here on Tuesday.

Vice-captain Navneet Kaur converted a penalty stroke in the 48th minute while Lalaremsiami struck from field play in the 56th minute for India, who had plenty of scoring chances including 13 penalty corners.

India will face China, whom they defeated in the league stages, in the final on Wednesday. Earlier, China beat Malaysia 3-1 in the first semifinal.

Malaysia will take on Japan in the third-fourth place match, while Korea finished fifth after beating Thailand 3-0 in the fifth-sixth place classification match.

The Indians continued their attacking game and put on early pressure on the Japanese defence, just like the last league game.

The play was mostly inside the Japanese half as the Indian defence was hardly tested.

India had the first shot at the goal inside the initial five minute. Skipper Salima Tete's attempt was thwarted by Japanse goalkeeper Yu Kudo.

The Indians repeatedly penetrated the Japanese citadel and in the process secured two penalty corners in a span of two minutes but Kudo was alert under the bar to deny Navneet Kaur and Deepika.

Three minutes into the second quarter, India secured three back-to-back penalty corners but failed to find the back of the net.

It was raining penalty corners for the hosts as they got back-to-back set pieces in the 21st minute but Kudo produced a brilliant save with her fully-stretched right leg to deny Deepika again.

In the 24th minute, India earned a penalty corner followed by another in the next minute but failed to get past Japanese goalkeeper Kudo, as they also lacked in execution.

A minute after the change of ends, India secured two penalty corners but wasted both.

In the 35th minute, Kodu again denied Deepika from a set piece.

In the 41st minute, Deepika stole the ball just outside the Japanese circle, but shot wide from a one-on-one situation with Kudo.

Seconds from the end of third quarter, Kudo once again pulled off a brilliant save to deny Udita from another penalty corner.

In the 47th minute, India secured their 12th penalty corner but failed to breach Kudo.

But a minute later, India broke the deadlock through a penalty stroke earned by Deepika and Navneet made no mistake.

The goal seemed to have rejuvenated the Indians as they scored a fine field goal in the 56th minute.

Lalremsiami slammed into the back of the Japanese goal after she was brilliantly set up by Sunelita Toppo's terrific run from the right flank.

Japan got a penalty corner in the dying moments, but failed to get past a rock solid Indian defence.