Will Siddaramaiah Remain CM for Five Years? Yathindra Siddaramaiah Responds
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Bengaluru, Feb 6 (NationPress) A leadership conflict has emerged once again in Karnataka, as Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and current Congress MLC, stated that the party high command has dismissed calls for a change in leadership. He emphasized that his father will hold the Chief Minister position for the next five years.
While addressing the media in Mysuru on Friday, Yathindra's statements gained traction against the backdrop of remarks made by Congress MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj, a close ally of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.
Basavaraj had previously urged the party's high command to clarify the leadership situation in the state, making his comments known on Thursday.
Yathindra articulated, “Currently, no leader has expressed intentions to remove Chief Minister Siddaramaiah from his role. My father is set to be the Chief Minister for the full five years. The high command has not supported any moves to alter the Chief Ministership. Therefore, I believe Siddaramaiah will indeed remain in his position for the entire term.”
In response to queries, he added, “There is no ambiguity within the party. The media should direct questions to my father, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.”
He affirmed that the high command has communicated clearly that it will not facilitate a leadership change in the state. “Given this context, I assert that Siddaramaiah will serve as Chief Minister for the complete term,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Priyank Kharge, the Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, as well as IT and BT, responded to Basavaraj’s call for intervention from the high command, firmly stating in Bengaluru that party leadership will convene with leaders as necessary.
Kharge mentioned that AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have made it clear that they are willing to intervene when appropriate and will make informed decisions. He emphasized that discussing such matters with the media is unproductive.
In related news, supporters of Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara chanted “next CM Parameshwara” during his visit to Chikkamagalur on Friday, urging the party leadership to consider him for the role.
It is noteworthy that the internal conflict within the Congress government in Karnataka has intensified, as loyalists of Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, namely MLA Sivaganga Basavaraj, called for the party high command to address the leadership dilemma in the state.
MLA Basavaraj stated, “It was previously indicated that both leaders, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar, would be summoned to Delhi on February 2. However, due to the extension of the Assembly session until February 4, this meeting was postponed. The Congress high command will invite them again. I’m uncertain about the exact nature of the meeting, but it seems related to our statements regarding the Chief Minister's position.”
“It appears the Congress high command intends to resolve the issue. Clarity will emerge once the leaders arrive in Delhi for the meeting. There’s no need to prolong this confusion. I cannot confirm any power-sharing agreement. If one exists, the Congress high command should clarify,” he added.
“I firmly believe that Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should be appointed as the Chief Minister of Karnataka. I took my oath of office in his name. I became an MLA because of Shivakumar and I stand resolutely with him. There’s no question of retracting my position. However, if the Congress high command clarifies that there’s no power-sharing arrangement and that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will continue, I accept that too. Even if a new leader is designated as Chief Minister, I am fine with it. The high command should conclusively address the confusion surrounding this matter. It does not reflect well to publicly debate internal party issues,” Basavaraj concluded.
“In a couple of days, the Congress high command may summon both Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar to Delhi,” he added.