Karnataka: Rumours of leadership change, demand to make this leader the Chief Minister, will Siddaramaiah lose the chair?

Bengaluru. Speculations have intensified about Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar becoming the CM in place of Siddaramaiah in Karnataka. Congress MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga on Sunday claimed that Shivakumar will serve as the Chief Minister for the next 7.5 years from December next year. Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily also said that no one can stop Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar from becoming the CM of the state. These statements of Congress leaders have further intensified the rumours of leadership change in Karnataka.

Channagiri MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga said, ‘Write it down, it will happen by December. If you want, I can even write it in blood that he (Shivakumar) will become the CM by December. If he takes charge in December, he will run the administration, which will also include the next five-year term, so in total he will be the CM for 7.5 years.’ Sivaganga said that Shivakumar played a significant role in improving the performance of the Congress in both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

Don’t mistake Shivakumar’s restraint for his weakness
Congress MLA Sivaganga said, ‘He (Shivakumar) has created history. He has organized the party, invested his resources and sacrificed a lot for it. His silence or restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. The high command knows everything and I am 100 per cent sure that he will become the CM by December.’ There is talk in Karnataka’s political circles, especially in the ruling Congress, that there may be a possible leadership change later this year.

Meanwhile, Veerappa Moily said, ‘I was the person who ensured that Shivakumar got the first ticket to contest as an MLA. Today, he has emerged as a successful leader in Karnataka. Let us all wish that he becomes the CM as soon as possible.’ Addressing a Congress event in Karkala, he said that despite being the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president, Shivakumar has worked tirelessly even in challenging times for the party at the national level and has contributed to bringing the party to power in other states as well.

No one can stop Shivakumar from becoming CM
Praising Shivakumar’s leadership and organisational skills, former Union minister Veerappa Moily, pointing to the Karnataka deputy chief minister seated on the dais, said, “No one can stop you from becoming the chief minister. There is no need to worry about it. If someone criticises it, they can do so for their own satisfaction, but no one can stop Shivakumar from becoming CM. This post is not a gift given by anyone; you have earned it for yourself.”

Karnataka Congress president DK Shivakumar has openly expressed his ambition for the chief minister’s post. After the Congress’ victory in the May 2023 assembly elections, Siddaramaiah assumed the CM post, while Shivakumar accepted the role of deputy chief minister after assurances from the high command. If sources are to be believed, the Congress top leadership had agreed to both its stalwart leaders of Karnataka for a chief ministerial term of two and a half years each. In December, Siddaramaiah will complete two and a half years as chief minister.

Siddaramaiah will complete 5-year term: Rajanna
Now the MLAs supporting Shivakumar in the Karnataka Congress are demanding to make him the Chief Minister, while the Siddaramaiah-backed MLAs are claiming that he will complete his five-year term. MLA Basavaraju V Sivaganga requested the high command to stop Minister KN Rajanna from publicly criticizing Shivakumar. He said, ‘He is causing embarrassment to the party and the government. I urge the high command to take action against Rajanna.’ Meanwhile, Rajanna, associated with the Siddaramaiah faction, says that the current CM will complete his full five-year term.