The residents of Siddaramanahundi, the native village of Siddaramaiah were, in fact, jubilant since Wednesday following reports that their leader would become the chief minister again

The villagers set off crackers, raised slogans hailing Siddaramaiah and distributed sweets. His brother Sidde Gowda was confident that Siddaramaiah will be chosen for the top post

"There's a guarantee that Siddaramaiah will become chief minister. He has done good for the people. He introduced 'Anna Bhagya' scheme giving free rice to the poor people," his brother Sidde Gowda told reporters in Siddaramanahundi on Wednesday

Meanwhile, arrangements were afoot at the Kanteerava stadium in Bengaluru where the swearing-in ceremony will take place. Security has been stepped up near the residence of the Leader of Opposition in the outgoing assembly in Bengaluru and in and around the stadium where the ceremony will take place

All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge along with other stakeholders held parleys past midnight to hammer out a solution between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar -- the two chief ministerial aspirants. A Congress Legislature Party meeting has been called by Shivakumar, the party's state unit chief, in Bengaluru on Thursday evening. The decision will be announced there