Will Siddaramaiah Remain Chief Minister for Full Term?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Siddaramaiah confirms commitment to full term as Chief Minister.
- No power-sharing discussions within Karnataka Congress.
- Opposition challenges his leadership amid development announcements.
- Political dynamics may change with ongoing debates.
- Yathindra's remarks add to the internal party drama.
Belagavi, Dec 19 (NationPress) Amidst rumors regarding a leadership shift within the Karnataka Congress, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah firmly stated on Friday that he is the current Chief Minister and intends to serve his full term. He also explicitly refuted any discussions about a power-sharing agreement within the party.
During the Assembly session, Siddaramaiah responded to inquiries from BJP leaders concerning his tenure and the implementation of promises made for the development of the North Karnataka region.
"The leadership issue is an internal matter for our party. We will adhere to the directives from the high command. Nonetheless, I am the current Chief Minister and have served two and a half years already. I will continue to hold this position in the future as well," Siddaramaiah reiterated, adding: "I am here and will remain as the Chief Minister."
In a response to Senior BJP MLA V. Sunil Kumar, who expressed concern about the implementation of announcements for North Karnataka, Siddaramaiah confirmed that he would indeed continue to serve in his role.
Leader of the Opposition, R. Ashoka, sought clarification on whether the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) had resolved if Siddaramaiah would serve a complete five-year term or just a two-and-a-half-year stint. The Chief Minister clarified that no such decision regarding a half-term arrangement had been made.
BJP MLA N. Munirathna further challenged Siddaramaiah to make a definitive statement about his commitment to a five-year term. In response, Siddaramaiah turned to Ashoka and questioned whether he would remain as Leader of the Opposition for five years. "I may be physically weak, but I am capable. Having completed one full five-year term as Chief Minister, I am now in my second term. I believe the high command is supportive of me," he asserted.
Siddaramaiah also took a jab at the BJP, referencing former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa who claimed he would serve a full term but did not.
Such statements are likely to ignite fresh discussions both within the Congress party and across broader political circles in the state.
Notably, Siddaramaiah's son and Congress MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah stirred controversy earlier by indicating that the party high command had declined Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's request to assume the Chief Minister position, asserting that Siddaramaiah would indeed complete his full term.