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The leadership tussle has resurfaced in Karnataka, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pressing for a cabinet reshuffle, while his deputy DK Shivakumar says the Congress high command should first resolve the question of who will lead the government.
According to several party insiders, if the Congress high command approves the cabinet reshuffle, it would indicate that Siddaramaiah will complete the full five-year term, reducing Shivakumar’s chances of occupying the top post.
Six MLAs from the Shivakumar camp are more likely to reach Delhi and join them, apart from those who have already visited the national capital, with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah saying the final decision on leadership change is taken by the high command, and it should be accepted by him as well as his deputy.
Siddaramaiah told reporters, “We will abide by the decision of the high command. If they decide that I should continue (as chief minister), I will continue. After all, whatever decision the high command takes, I should accept it. Shivakumar should also accept it.”
Asked whether Shivakumar would become the CM, he said, ‘When I have said that the high command will take the decision, you are asking me the same thing again.’
At least six MLAs supporting Deputy CM Shivakumar arrived in the national capital on Sunday night to meet Congress leaders, even as rumors of a power-sharing deal between the top two leaders in 2023 have only fueled speculation.
As the Congress government completed its 2.5-year term on November 20, there has been speculation that a CM change could be imminent, which is being called a “November Revolution” by some in the light of the power-sharing agreement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar after the party won the 2023 assembly elections.
Incidentally, amid the demand to hand over the reins to a Dalit Chief Minister, former KPCC chief and Home Minister G Parameshwara has also staked his claim.
Apart from the six pro-Shivkumar MLAs who are currently in Delhi, some more MLAs are likely to travel soon to make the KPCC chief the CM, party sources said. PTI,
The MLAs who are in Delhi include HC Balakrishna, KM Uday, Iqbal Hussain, Nayana Motamma, Sharath Bachegowd and Shivaganga Basavraj, PTI The news has been given quoting sources.
Siddaramaiah had earlier met AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is currently in Bengaluru. According to sources, Kharge is expected to leave for Delhi and Rahul Gandhi is likely to return from abroad, which suggests that the issue may be discussed between them.
Kharge has also reiterated that ultimately the decision will be taken by the Congress high command.
Last week, around 10 MLAs supporting Shivakumar traveled to New Delhi to meet Kharge, coinciding with the Congress government completing 2.5 years of its tenure on November 20.
However, Shivkumar claimed that he was not aware that any MLA was going to Delhi to meet Kharge. Later on Saturday, Siddaramaiah held a meeting with Kharge at his residence for more than an hour.
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