Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivkumar said on Wednesday that he would support Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and follow the Congress’s high command’s decision amid increasing speculation over possible leadership change in the state.
Shivkumar told reporters in Bangalore, “What option do I have to stand with him (Siddaramaiah). I have no objection to this. I have no objection to it. Whatever party tells high command and whatever it wants will be fulfilled,” Shivkumar told reporters in Bengaluru.
Shivkumar’s statement came as rumors of a rift were prevalent within the Karnataka Congress, especially party general secretary Randeep Surjewala organized a series of meetings with MLAs in the state.
He said that the objective of Surjewal’s meeting with MPs was to fully strengthen the organizational structure of the party, as per the instructions of Congress President Mallikrajun Kharge, to focus on the construction of the organization in the district this year and to block this year’s level.
Shivkumar said, “The general secretary of AICC is meeting to discuss the issues of the party organization and accept the requests from the MLA, but there is no discussion about changing the Chief Minister or expanding the cabinet.”
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Asked if the party was not supporting him and if his supporters were advancing him to become the Chief Minister, citing his sacrifices, Shivkumar said, “I do not want to discuss anything. Millions of workers have supported this party. It is not only DK Shivkumar.”
Following the results of the assembly elections in May 2023, there was a strong competition between Siddaramaiah and DK Shivkumar for the post of Chief Minister.
The Congress eventually persuaded Shivkumar to accept the role of Deputy Chief Minister.
At that time, reports suggested that an agreement was signed through a “rotational chief minister” system, under which Shivkumar would take over as Chief Minister after two and a half years.
However, the party has not officially confirmed any such agreement.
Earlier in the day, Shivkumar rejected anything of internal dissatisfaction within the ruling Congress. He said that as long as Siddaramaiah remained the Chief Minister, there was no reason for discord on the leadership.
