Bengaluru (Karnataka): Amid speculation surrounding the Karnataka Chief Minister’s post, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said on Thursday that the high command will take a decision after discussions between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. Speculation is rife after the Karnataka government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Kharge said it would be a collective decision. “I will call everyone and discuss. Rahul Gandhi will also be present. Other members will also be present.” He said, “The CM and Deputy CM will also be present. A decision will be made after discussions with all of them. There is a team. I am not alone. The entire high command team will discuss and make a decision.” This morning, Deputy CM DK Shivakumar, amid speculation of a tussle between him and CM Siddaramaiah over the post, shared a social media post, reiterating, “Staying true to one’s word is the greatest power in the world.”
In a post on X, possibly addressed to the Congress high command, DK Shivakumar urged everyone, including himself, to keep their promises. The post read, “The power of words is the greatest power in the world. The greatest power in the world is staying true to one’s word. Be it a judge, the president, or anyone else, including myself, everyone has to stay true to their word.”
Earlier on Wednesday, senior Congress MLA and former minister KN Rajanna said that the Congress Legislature Party meeting should decide on the Chief Minister, and therefore “the Assembly should be dissolved and elections should be held.”
He said that the Congress Legislature Party had chosen Siddaramaiah as CM. “Let’s dissolve the Assembly and face elections. Then work together under the leadership of DK Shivakumar and come up with a majority. Then let him serve as CM for five years.”
The Congress MLA told reporters, “Wasn’t Siddaramaiah elected by the Congress Legislature Party? Now the Congress Legislature Party should decide.” However, Rajanna supported Siddaramaiah and also put forward the name of state Home Minister G. Parameshwara, calling him a second choice for the post of Chief Minister.
He said, “The high command has said not to discuss leadership. So I will not discuss it. My personal wish is that Siddaramaiah remains CM for five years.”
He said, “The AICC will clarify in the next few days. Otherwise, the other option is that Dr. G. Parameshwara should become CM.” While CM Siddaramaiah has termed it an unnecessary debate and DK Shivakumar has reiterated his loyalty to the Congress and dismissed speculation about his resignation from the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, the Deputy CM has also sought a meeting with senior party leader Sonia Gandhi on November 29 to discuss the ongoing issues.
