Congress' Mandya MLA Ravikumar Gowda's (Ravi Ganiga) claim that Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will become the chief minister after two-and-half years of the government's tenure, has caused a flutter within the ruling party circles, with some ministers asserting that incumbent Siddaramaiah will complete full term, and a few others saying it is for the high command to decide.
Also, a dinner meeting at Home Minister G Parameshwara's residence on Friday night, attended by Siddaramaiah, Social Welfare Minister H C Mahadevappa and PWD Minister Satih Jarakiholi has fuelled speculation in political quarters, as Shivakumar was not part of it.
“There is no brain (in such speculations)...Siddaramaiah will be there for five years...The CM post is not vacant, isn't he CM now? ...He is CM,” Mahadevappa, a close confidant of Siddaramaiah, told reporters in response to a question.
On the dinner meeting, he said, “We had gone for dinner, nothing special in it.....There was nothing else other than meeting and eating food.”
Asked as to why Shivakumar was not part of the meeting, he said, “I don't know about it. Dr (Parameshwara) had called for dinner, we had food. That's all.”
Parameshwara did not want to respond to any question regarding the CM change and himself being considered for the top post.
“I don't know, some one or the other will keep discussing some or the other thing, where should I answer it....Ask him (CM)”, he said. About the dinner meeting at his residence, he maintained that they casually met for food.
Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna, however, said, his desire is that Siddaramaiah should be there for five years, but it is ultimately for the high command to decide.
Siddaramaiah was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 20 this year after the Congress posted a landslide victory ousting the BJP from power.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister post after the assembly election results in May this year, and the Congress party had managed to convince the latter and made him the deputy chief minister.