India, May 30 -- The Congress called a meeting of its legislators in Karnataka on Saturday and held marathon meetings in Delhi with Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar to decide the contours of the new cabinet as the southern state prepared for a chief ministerial transition, a day after Siddaramaiah stepped aside after months of speculation.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi met Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, discussing the state cabinet, organisational changes and balancing competing factions within the state unit, people aware of the matter said.

Key to these discussions were the future role of Siddaramaiah, who resigned as CM on Thursday but declined an offer to move to the Rajya Sabha, and...