D.K. Suresh Expresses Hope for Brother Shivakumar as Karnataka CM

Bengaluru, March 1 (NationPress) Amid ongoing discussions regarding internal conflicts within the Karnataka Congress concerning power-sharing, D.K. Suresh, a former Congress MP and the younger sibling of Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, expressed on Saturday his continued aspiration for his brother to ascend to the role of Chief Minister.

This statement was made during a media interaction in Bengaluru.

When questioned about his earlier remarks regarding his desire for his brother to become Chief Minister, he responded: "Even now, I affirm that this desire remains with me. I have not concealed my ambition. However, the appropriate moment must arrive for such a change."

“At present, Siddaramaiah occupies the Chief Minister's office. One cannot simply displace him and appoint someone new. How can that be feasible? Given that Siddaramaiah holds this position, we must respect his honor and dignity, as well as the trust the public has placed in him. The party will ultimately make these decisions.”

When asked about his confidence in the party promoting his brother Shivakumar to Chief Minister, he stated, "D.K. Shivakumar himself is a man of faith. Everyone must live with trust. Can anyone exist without faith? Mutual trust is vital in life."

In response to whether appointing Shivakumar as Deputy Chief Minister was adequate, he replied: "That decision rests with the party. Shivakumar has faith in the party. Currently, Siddaramaiah is the Chief Minister. There is no point in discussing the Chief Minister position at this time. I cannot predict whether that moment will arrive or not. How could I comment on it?"

Regarding reports that Shivakumar had "asserted his rights" before the high command in Delhi, he said: "I lack information on that matter. Just because Shivakumar traveled to Delhi, it shouldn't be overanalyzed. He is the party president and travels to Delhi regularly, sometimes every two weeks. Regardless of holding the president's position, he maintains ongoing communication with high command leaders.

"Even during his visits to Delhi for official or personal matters, he habitually meets with high command leaders. Thus, there is no need to interpret his trip differently. Besides ensuring good governance and fortifying the party structure, Shivakumar has no ulterior motives. Now that he is the Deputy Chief Minister, the notion of asserting his rights is irrelevant."

Commenting on the discussions sparked by his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his attendance at an event hosted by Union Minister Amit Shah, Suresh remarked: "When Shivakumar met the Prime Minister and participated in the Isha Foundation event, he had informed the high command. His visit was not clandestine; he publicly disclosed his attendance. Sadhguru personally invited him to our home, and he graciously accepted the invitation to participate in the event.”

He further noted that Shivakumar has always been devoted to spirituality. He was named Shivakumar as a result of a promise made to Lord Shiva.

“Our father would not commence his daily tasks without first visiting a Shiva temple. Whenever possible, both Shivakumar and I make it a point to visit Shiva temples,” he added.

"For the past 35 years, Shivakumar has consistently visited religious sites across the state and the nation. Nowadays, due to media coverage, his temple visits are gaining visibility. He visits Kollur, Kukke Subramanya, and Dharmasthala temples two or three times annually. In addition, he also travels to Sringeri Mutt, temples in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Northern India. This is nothing out of the ordinary. As a Hindu, he is simply adhering to his customs and traditions," he clarified.

Suresh further asserted that this country is not confined to just Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh.

"All states possess equal rights. The Central government must ensure our state receives a fair allocation of tax revenue," he concluded.