The internal tussle in the Karnataka Congress seems to be further intensifying. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar are trying to get an upper hand over each other for the chair of Chief Minister. The party’s high command wants to resolve the issue quickly as discussions are shifting to Delhi.
At an interaction with the media in Mysuru on Friday, Siddaramaiah said he would be presenting the state budget for the next two years. He also repeated that he proposes to remain Chief Minister for the full five-year term. He added that he, DK Shivakumar, and all MLAs will abide by the decisions of the high command. Siddaramaiah said he would meet AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, who is visiting Bengaluru on Saturday, for a separate discussion.
In fact, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar claimed that he never indulged in factional politics. In response to a question on ministers and MLAs going to Delhi, he asked whether it was wrong for the party members to meet high command after the Chief Minister spoke about the cabinet expansion.
He made his stand clear by stating that he is a leader of all 140 Congress MLAs and that he will not do anything to restrict their activities. He even wished Siddaramaiah success to complete a five-year term and promised to cooperate with him. Warning from the High Command Against this recent backdrop, AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala posted on X that he had spoken with both the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister. He said the current rumors were created by the BJP and some media groups after their election loss. Surjewala urged MLAs and MLCs to avoid any comments that might cause confusion. As the DK Shivakumar camp headed to Delhi, Siddaramaiah’s loyalists in Bengaluru held strategy meetings and hosted special dinners. One such meeting on Friday was led by senior ministers Satish Jarkiholi, H.C. Mahadevappa, Dinesh Gundu Rao and others.
