Amid speculation over the leadership change issue in Karnataka, the Congress on Friday said it has sternly warned its leaders and MLAs in the State from making any public statements on the leadership issue or falling for the agenda propagated by vested interests.
Blaming the BJP for running a maligning campaign against its Karnataka government, AICC general secretary in-charge for party affairs in Karnataka Randeep Surjewala said he had a discussion with chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar over the issue.
“Had a discussion with Karnataka CM and Deputy CM and they agreed that a decisively defeated and faction-ridden Karnataka BJP, along with a section of the media, are designedly running a maligning campaign against Karnataka and its Congress Government,” Surjewala said.
As the Congress government in Karnataka completes 2.5 years, there has been speculation within the party over a possible leadership change in the state. However, deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar said he does not believe in groupism within the party and all 140 MLAs of the Congress are his own and he stands by them.
“All 140 MLAs are my MLAs. Making a group is not in my blood. The CM decided to reshuffle the cabinet. Everyone wants to become a minister, so it is quite natural for them to meet the leadership in Delhi. It is their right. We can’t stop them and say no. The CM has said that he will complete 5 years. I wish him all the best. We will all work with him. Both the CM and me have time and again said we abide by the high command,” Shivakumar said in a social media post.
A minister and few MLAs loyal to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have been camping in the national Capital to meet the Congress top leadership, indicating a power tussle in the ruling party. The development came a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years in office.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post after the declaration of the Assembly election results on May 20, 2023. The Congress had managed to convince the latter and make him the deputy chief minister.
According to sources, Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy, MLAs Iqbal Hussain, HC Balakrishna, and SR Srinivas are camping in Delhi since Thursday evening. Twelve more MLAs reached Delhi on Friday. A few days ago, about a dozen MLCs had camped in the national capital and spoke to the Congress general secretaries, sources said.
Addressing a gathering in Chamarajanagar on Thursday, Siddaramaiah hinted that he would continue as the chief minister. He emphasised that his position has been strong from the beginning and will continue to remain so in the future.
Reacting to the MLAs heading to Delhi, Shivakumar said he is not aware of it and that he is not keeping well. On Siddaramaiah’s assertion that he will remain CM for the full five-year term, Shivakumar said, “I am very glad about it. No one has said no. No one questioned that he will not be the chief minister. Our party has given him the responsibility to him to work as the chief minister. We all are working together.”