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Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has once again dismissed speculations of discussions regarding a leadership change in the state, saying he is “not in a hurry with anything” and has not had any talks with senior Congress leaders regarding the chief ministerial post.
Speaking to reporters in Mumbai, Shivkumar clearly denied meeting Congress national president Mallikarjun Kharge or Lok Sabha opposition leader Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the city.
He said, “I have come for a family function. There was no meeting or anything. Why would I come to the meeting in Mumbai? If there is a meeting to be held, it will be in Bengaluru or Delhi.”
Responding to a question on whether he has raised the issue of Karnataka chief ministerial post with the party leadership, the deputy chief minister said, “No… I am in no hurry with anything.”
increasing speculation
Shivakumar’s comments come amid growing speculation about a change in the face of the Karnataka chief ministerial post due to the 2023 “power-sharing agreement” between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar, which has been frequently mentioned in political circles.
Congress MLC and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Yathindra Siddaramaiah on Thursday supported his father CM Siddaramaiah for the chief ministerial post, saying he was unaware of any “power sharing agreement” between Siddaramaiah and state deputy CM DK Shivakumar.
Yatindra expressed surprise over the discussion on leadership change, saying “there is no need to change the Chief Minister”. However, he clarified that the decision of the high command on this issue will be final.
“In my opinion, there is no need to change the CM. Siddaramaiah will remain the full-time CM. I don’t know why the issue of leadership change is being discussed again and again. I don’t know whether there was any discussion on power sharing earlier or not…the decision of the high command is final,” he told reporters.
He said, “No one told me about power sharing. This is not the first time that MLAs have gone to Delhi to lobby. This has happened before in different parties too. We stand by the words of the high command. There is no need for change. There should be no unnecessary changes. I personally say that Siddaramaiah will remain the CM for five years. The high command will review everything and decide what is best.”
A day earlier, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar had said that he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah would go to Delhi if the party leadership asks them to do so.
If the high command asks me and the CM to come to Delhi, we will go,” Shivkumar told reporters at Vidhana Soudha.
On Thursday, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said the decision regarding the leadership would be taken after discussions among the central leaders of the party, except Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.
I am in no hurry for anything.
He told reporters, “I will call everyone and discuss. Rahul Gandhi will also be present in that discussion. Other members will also be present. The CM and Deputy CM will also be present. A decision will be taken after the discussion. There is a team. I am not alone. The entire high command team will discuss and take a decision.”
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