Siddaramaiah on Leadership Row: Will Go by High Command’s Decision
Leadership tussle in Karnataka has intensified, as Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar continues to meet MLAs, including Ministers HC Mahadevappa and Satish Jarakiholi, to garner support
Belagavi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, reacting to the alleged tussle over the Chief Minister's post between him and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, said they will abide by whatever decision is taken by the Congress high command in Delhi. “Whatever the High Command decides, that is what will happen,” said Siddaramaiah.
During his visit to Belagavi, the Chief Minister said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding tur dal and noted that there had been no discussion on the guarantee schemes. “Yes, I have written a letter regarding tur dal. Whatever happens in the CLP meeting, is it possible to discuss it here? Can everything be told to all of you?” he added.
Meanwhile, the leadership tussle in Karnataka has intensified, as Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar continues to meet MLAs, including Ministers HC Mahadevappa and Satish Jarakiholi, to garner support.
Although Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met twice for breakfast to reaffirm party unity and stated that the High Command would decide, the Congress leadership has not provided any clarity so far.
Siddaramaiah’s silence is being viewed as a sign of support from a section of senior leaders, including BK Hariprasad, Satish Jarakiholi, MB Patil, Bhyrati Suresh, Dinesh Gundu Rao, HC Mahadevappa, Zameer Ahmad, and others. However, Shivakumar’s continued meetings with MLAs have kept the confusion over a possible leadership change alive.
The high command, led by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, is expected to make a decision soon. Both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have expressed willingness to abide by the party’s final call.
Speculation over a leadership change began on November 20, when the Siddaramaiah-led government completed half its term. Siddaramaiah has maintained he will serve the full five-year term, citing the people’s mandate and the party’s five guarantee schemes. Shivakumar, however, is pushing for a change, citing a “secret agreement” under which he would take over as Chief Minister after 2.5 years.