Kumaraswamy meets Sonia, Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, says they will attend swearing-in ceremony

Karnataka chief minister-designate and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy met UPA convenor Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi in the national capital, amid a row over deputy CM post

Kumaraswamy who is in Delhi ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, is likely to discuss the power-sharing arrangement, finalise the number of ministerial berths a party would get and who would become the deputy chief minister.

Earlier in the day, the JD(S) leader also met BSP chief Mayawati.

Speaking to reporters, Kumaraswamy said, "I wanted to show my respect and regards to Gandhi family. That's why I came here. I requested them further presence in oath taking ceremony. Both of them agreed to be present at the oath-taking ceremony."

"I had a warm and cordial meeting this evening, in Delhi, with Shri H D Kumaraswamy ji. We discussed the political situation in Karnataka and other matters of mutual interest. I will be attending his swearing-in as CM of Karnataka, on Wednesday, in Bengaluru," said Rahul Gandhi in a tweet.

The JD(S) fought the May 12 assembly election in alliance with the BSP, and joined hands with the Congress after the verdict throws up a hung assembly on May 15.

The JD(S) leader has already indicated that there won't be a rotational arrangement with Congress for the post of the chief minister.

Congress's G Parameshwara is frontrunner for the deputy chief minister's post.

Kumaraswamy is scheduled to take oath as chief minister on May 23 and the floor test is expected to happen within 24 hours. Both Congress and JD(S) MLAs will remain confined to their hotels till the floor test.

A small group of MLAs will be sworn in as ministers along with Kumaraswamy on Wednesday.

Many regional party leaders including Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal will be attending the swearing-in ceremony.

Kumaraswamy was invited to form the government after BS Yeddyurappa of the BJP on May 19 stepped down as the chief minister without facing the floor test in the state assembly as the BJP fell short of numbers.

The May 12 Karnataka assembly polls threw up a hung assembly, with the BJP emerging as the single largest party with 104 seats. The Congress was next with 78 and the JD(S) followed with 37. The BSP has one MLA and two seats went to Independents.