New Delhi/Bengaluru, Nov 29 (NationPress) In light of a prominent leadership crisis in Karnataka, Congress figure D.K. Suresh, a former MP, expressed his support on Saturday for the unified statement made by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. He noted that both leaders have worked to “resolve all uncertainties” regarding their collaborative dynamics and upcoming power-sharing frameworks.

During a press interaction in Delhi, Suresh, who is also the younger sibling of Shivakumar, emphasized the clarity provided by both leaders in their joint media conference, where they reaffirmed their solidarity and commitment to work collectively. “The Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister have resolved all uncertainties and offered a clear explanation,” he stated.

Suresh’s comments followed a breakfast discussion between the two leaders, where they jointly confirmed the absence of disputes. He recalled previous assurances from CM Siddaramaiah regarding his commitment and pointed out the significance of their statements, coinciding with the Congress government reaching a milestone of two-and-a-half years in governance on Nov 20. Observers in political circles interpreted Suresh’s remarks as a reminder of an informal understanding regarding power-sharing, suggesting that Siddaramaiah might step down mid-term to allow Shivakumar to take over.

Reaffirming his confidence in the public statements made, Suresh remarked, “If there are any further issues, the senior leadership will address them. With both leaders having already clarified the situation, there’s no need for additional interpretations.”

Shivakumar’s position remains steadfast: he has consistently affirmed that the collective support of 140 MLAs is assured. As the party’s State President, he has reiterated this message before and continues to do so.

When asked directly if the internal matters had been settled and whether he was involved in prior discussions, Suresh redirected to the party’s top echelons.

“If there’s more to discuss, the senior leadership will handle it,” he reiterated. In response to concerns about whether Siddaramaiah would uphold the purported agreement to vacate his position, Suresh clarified that he never made the claims attributed to him by the media, accusing reporters of misrepresenting his earlier statements.

“I expressed something different — you (the media) have misconstrued it. Nevertheless, since both the CM and Dy CM have clarified the matter today, further discussion is unnecessary,” he added.

When questioned about the significance of Shivakumar referencing Sonia Gandhi’s sacrifices during their joint appearance, Suresh remarked that such acknowledgments align with Shivakumar’s established practice of honoring the Nehru-Gandhi family.

“The Deputy CM has consistently highlighted the sacrifices and contributions of the Nehru family. This isn’t a new occurrence,” he noted.

On whether the breakfast meeting symbolized a temporary truce, and if Siddaramaiah’s remark about remaining united “until the Assembly session” implied a limited commitment, Suresh indicated he hadn’t seen the full context. “I’m not aware of the exact statements or the media interpretation. I’ll provide comments after reviewing both the statement and its interpretation,” he said.

Suresh addressed inquiries regarding the involvement of higher authorities in the matter, mentioning that the party’s central leadership convenes regularly. “The high command meets daily to discuss national, organizational, and state-level issues. With the Lok Sabha session commencing on Monday (Dec 1), it’s crucial for the party to convene to highlight the ruling party’s shortcomings and determine the agenda for discussion. Thus, a high-command meeting is routine,” he explained.

When probed regarding potential rewards for Shivakumar’s contributions, including the KPCC president’s position or the Chief Minister’s role, Suresh refrained from speculation. “The KPCC president’s role and the Deputy Chief Minister position are party appointments. Therefore, further commentary is not appropriate,” he stated.

Regarding his brief visit to Delhi, Suresh characterized it as primarily for a personal event that evening, mentioning he may connect with senior leaders if time allows. “I’ve come to Delhi for a private event this evening. If senior leaders are available, I’ll meet them. I haven’t requested an appointment, assuming it’s the weekend and no one would be available today. If the opportunity arises, I will meet them and update the media afterward.”