- There is no plan to replace Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister, say Congress sources
- DK Shivakumar's supporters demand a change of Chief Minister in Karnataka
- Randeep Singh Surjewala sent to Bengaluru to manage unrest and hold talks
Putting speculation to rest, the Congress high command today indicated that it has no plan to replace Siddaramaiah as the Karnataka Chief Minister for now. Senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala, who was rushed to Bengaluru as the troubleshooter amid unease within the ruling party, told the media that no leadership change plan had come up in his discussions with MLAs. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, whose supporters have been demanding his elevation to the top post, sat next to Mr Surjewala as he said this.
Earlier, sources in the Congress high command had said there is no question of replacing Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister. The source said key changes in the state Congress unit and the cabinet are likely and discussions on this front are being held. Mr Surjewala had also said that his visit and meetings with MLAs were an organisational exercise aimed at introspection and improving governance.
Mr Shivakumar, the sources said, doesn't want a cabinet reshuffle. Siddaramaiah, however, is in favour of a rejig because it will firmly place him as the Chief Minister for the rest of the government's term, which ends in 2028. Siddaramaiah's image as a mass leader is an advantage, the sources said.
Among the MLAs who spoke out in Mr Shivakumar's support is Iqbal Hussain, who said 100 out of 138 Congress MLAs are backing the Deputy Chief Minister. He also warned that if the high command does not change the Chief Minister, the Congress may not return to power in Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah yesterday trashed the buzz over a possible leadership change. Speaking in Mysuru, he said the Congress government will remain "as solid as a rock" for five years. Mr Shivakumar at his side, he told the media, "This government will be as solid as a 'bande' (rock) for five years." The Chief Minister's supporters often call him 'bande'.
When the media asked him about his ties with Mr Shivakumar, he held the Deputy Chief Minister's hand to show unity and said, "We are on good terms." Asked if attempts were being made to drive a wedge between them, he said, "We don't listen to what others say."
The current unrest over the Chief Minister post goes back to the 2023 election result in which Congress scored a thumping win. At the time, Mr Shivakumar was considered a strong contender for the top post for his role in the Congress win. Eventually, the Congress leadership managed to convince him to settle for the Deputy Chief Minister and state party chief posts. Some reports had then claimed that an agreement of rotational chief ministership had been reached, but this was never confirmed.
