Bengaluru, 29 April — Amid swirling speculation that Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar could be handed the Chief Minister's post on his 64th birthday on 15 May, his younger brother and former Congress MP D.K. Suresh on Wednesday flatly denied any knowledge of such a development, calling the rumours routine political noise.

Suresh's Denial

Speaking to reporters at the Bengaluru Milk Union Limited (BAMUL) office, Suresh said, "I am not aware of any such good news. There is always some 'good news' every time. Sometimes we travel to Delhi for party work, at other times for personal reasons, and occasionally for government-related matters. There is nothing unusual about it."

When pressed on whether any announcement was expected on Shivakumar's birthday, Suresh deflected, noting that Shivakumar himself had requested that no flex boards or banners be put up for the occasion on environmental grounds. "It would be good if everyone follows this," he added.

Power-Sharing Talks and MLA Pressure

On questions around the ongoing power-sharing arrangement between Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah — a contentious issue within Karnataka's Congress government since it came to power in 2023 — Suresh said the matter rested entirely with the party's high command. "This is not the time to discuss such matters. It is an issue left to the high command. We have said we will abide by whatever decision the high command takes," he stated.

Suresh also acknowledged that there is demand from MLAs for ministerial positions, without elaborating further. The Karnataka Congress government has faced persistent internal pressure over cabinet berths and the question of leadership rotation.

Delhi Visits Called Routine

Responding to questions about recent trips to New Delhi — often read by political observers as a signal of high-level negotiations — Suresh was dismissive. "Both Shivakumar and I travel to Delhi frequently. If it were a rare visit, then it would be noteworthy. We go at least twice a month," he said, effectively undercutting the significance attributed to such visits by political watchers.

Congress MLA's Bold Prediction

The denials come a day after Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain, a vocal Shivakumar loyalist, made a pointed prediction in Ramanagara on Tuesday — the same day voting concluded in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Assam. Hussain declared that Shivakumar would "surely" become Chief Minister by 15 May, describing it as a "final date" after having made similar predictions on two earlier occasions.

"It is the wish of all leaders and the people that Shivakumar should get an opportunity to serve as Chief Minister," Hussain told reporters, adding that under Shivakumar's leadership, many development projects would be undertaken. When asked if the CM post would serve as a birthday gift, Hussain said everyone shared the same wish — that Shivakumar should assume power.

What's Next

The Karnataka Congress leadership transition has been a long-simmering question, with Shivakumar reportedly having been promised a rotational arrangement when the party formed the government. Notably, this is not the first time a specific date has been floated and then passed without a change. Whether 15 May proves any different will ultimately depend on the Congress high command's calculus — one that Suresh himself says he is not privy to.