Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who is in the national capital amidst the speculation of a leadership change in the state, said on Thursday that there was no “vacancy” for the CM post and rejected the matter of his deputy DK Shivkumar to make way for him.
Siddaramaiah told reporters on Thursday, “Deputy CM) DK Shivkumar has said the same thing, I am saying the same thing. There is no vacancy. I am a lot in front of you. I am the Chief Minister of Karnataka.”
Shivkumar, who is also in Delhi, has publicly denied the change of guards.
Siddaramaiah said that Randeep Singh Surjewal, the national general secretary of the Congress in charge of Karnataka, has clearly rejected any such step.
“Surjevala has clearly stated that there has been no change in leadership. The issue of leadership is not in the discussion. When he said this, there are speculation? There is no discussion about it,” Siddaramaiah said.
On questions about a possible power-sharing system, Siddaramaiah said: “It is natural to raise such issues when the government is completing two-and-a-half years, but this does not mean that such an agreement had happened. If such an agreement had happened, I would not recently say that I will become CM for five years.”
The Chief Minister said that the decision of the party high command would be final and binding. “If someone shares a personal opinion, can it be the decision of the party? (Mallikrajun) Kharge and Rahul Gandhi should talk about it,” he said.
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Siddaramaiah said that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi did not invite him for any discussion on the matter, but he was due to meeting Surjewal.
On a cabinet reshuffle, he said: “There has been no discussion on the change of leadership and cabinet reshuffle. There has been no discussion. Shivkumar himself said that there is no vacancy for the CM post.”
Siddaraiah reached Delhi on Wednesday and Shivkumar landed the next day. Both of them investigated at Karnataka Bhavan.
After the arrival of Shivkumar, the mill to pursue speculation was a step to capture the CM suite in the new Annexe Building of the building.
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Siddaramaiah moved to CM suite at the old building building. Sources said that he stayed in the new Annexe CM suite during his last visit, but did not like its facilities and complained of its lack of ventilation before transferring to the old building.
Sources said that after seeing the annexe suite empty after arrival, Shivkumar left after taking permission from the CM.
Significantly, both Siddaramaiah and Shivkumar held separate press conferences on Wednesday. Both went to meet Defense Minister Rajnath Singh together in the afternoon, after which Siddaramaiah returned to Karnataka Bhavan and addressed the media. Shivkumar did not return to the building with CM, and instead visited Connaught Place to watch a multi-level car parking there.
Indian Express News (T) Current Affairs
