Vijayapura (Karnataka): A fierce battle is brewing in Karnataka over the Chief Minister’s post. The Congress high command is confused by the candidacies of Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar. Meanwhile, another MLA has staked his claim for the ministerial position. Vitthala Katakadhonda, Congress MLA from Nagathan, declared himself a contender for the ministerial position.
MLA Vitthala Katakadhonda told news agency ANI that the CM post should be discussed at the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting, and hoped the high command would take a timely decision. Vitthala Katakadhonda said he was confident the high command would take a decision as soon as possible. Vittal said, “I am also a candidate for the ministerial post. The CM post should be discussed in the CLP meeting and the high command should take a decision. It would be best to take a decision on the CM post as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, confirmed unity within the Congress party, saying that both leaders have decided to accept whatever the party high command decides and remove any “confusion.”
CM Siddaramaiah said in a press conference, “We have decided that we will accept whatever the high command says. There will be no confusion from tomorrow. There is still no confusion. Some media reporters have created confusion.”
CM Siddaramaiah invited the deputy CM to his residence in Cauvery this morning for a breakfast meeting. The two had a “productive meeting” to discuss the state’s priorities and the “way forward.”
Speaking about the breakfast meeting, the Chief Minister said that Congress General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal had asked to call DK Shivakumar and AS Ponnanna. According to the CM, they discussed their agenda for the 2028 elections and the upcoming local body elections.
He said, “Our agenda is the 2028 elections. Local body elections are important. We discussed them. We also discussed bringing the Congress back to power in the 2028 elections. We discussed that we will contest the elections together. There are no differences between us and there will be no differences in the future.”
The CM said, “We have discussed among ourselves that we will contest the elections together, just like we did in the 2023 elections. There are no differences between us and there will be no differences in the future. We work together.”
Meanwhile, Deputy CM Shivakumar echoed the CM’s sentiments, saying that they want to fulfill the wishes of the people of the state. Shivakumar said during the press conference, “We have to fulfill their wishes. We are working in that direction. We are working on what the party high command has decided.” Both leaders appeared comfortable in their brief conversation. Now the ball is in the Congress high command’s court.
