The Karnataka political tussle took a fresh turn on Friday with state Congress chief D K Shivakumar insisting that “all 140 MLAs” were his and wishing Chief Minister Siddaramaiah good luck. The remarks came even as some members of the party headed to Delhi to push for changes in the state government. Meanwhile the CM has repeatedly insisted that he will remain in the top post and even present the upcoming budget.
“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 wrote on X.
Congress leaders camp in Delhi
According to a PTI report quoting sources, at least 15 MLAs and about a dozen MLCs have camped in New Delhi to push the party leadership to make Shivakumar the next Chief Minister of Karnataka. The demand is based on a purported power-sharing agreement reached in 2023 that let Siddaramaiah serve as CM for 2.5 years before making way for his deputy.
While those supporting Shivakumar are largely Vokkaligas, one of the dominant communities in Karnataka to which he belongs to, the ‘AHINDA’ MLAs too had a meeting on Thursday night, sources said. AHINDA is a Kannada acronym for minorities, backward castes and Dalits.
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi also hosted a dinner where the Ministers and MLAs met on Thursday. Though Jarkiholi and Home Minister G Parameshwara said it was just a regular meeting, Shivakumar said that their meeting was to have a new Congress president and to have four to five deputy Chief Ministers.
Will continue as CM: Siddaramaiah
Siddaramaiah had insisted earlier on Friday that he would continue in office and also present state budgets in the future — prompting the message from Shivakumar. The CM reiterated that decisions about leadership change, cabinet reshuffle or government restructuring would be taken by the Congress high command.
“Has High Command spoken on it? We can’t help it. Earlier also some people were discussing it, and now they might have gone (to Delhi). Finally, Shivakumar and I have to listen to whatever the high command says. Why are you asking this? Yes, I will continue (to present the next two state budgets). I will present the budgets in future also,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)