Rumours grew stronger on the morning of May 18, 2023, that Siddaramaiah would be named as the next Chief Minister of Karnataka.
However, an official announcement was still awaited, 5 days after the Congress swept the state election.
Reports emerged that a deal had been reached to have Siddaramaiah as CM and Karnataka Congress chief DK Shivakumar as Deputy CM.
News agency ANI said that Siddaramaiah would be elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party on the evening of May 18, and would take oath on May 20.