Shivamogga, Dec 13 (NationPress) The Karnataka BJP on Saturday asserted that a conflict exists between Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar (DKS) regarding leadership roles, emphasizing the lack of unity between them, as they appear to be sharpening knives against one another.

“For the last two years, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have been promoting a message of unity, yet now they are turning against each other, and the repercussions of this conflict are impacting the state. The leadership dispute is not merely an internal Congress issue; it involves the state Chief Minister,” remarked BJP state president and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra during a press conference in Shivamogga.

He indicated that the rivalry over the Chief Minister’s position has grown more intense, noting that Siddaramaiah claims he will follow the high command’s directive.

“When Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge visited Bengaluru, he expressed his desperation,” added Vijayendra.

In response to Yathindra Siddaramaiah, son of the Chief Minister, asserting that his father would serve a full term, Vijayendra questioned who constitutes the Congress high command—Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, or Yathindra Siddaramaiah?

“This query is even being raised by Congress MLAs,” he claimed.

He further suggested that with the ongoing struggle for the Chief Minister’s position, a resolution is unlikely in the near future.

“What is the rationale behind convening a winter session under such circumstances? I had proposed a postponement if feasible,” Vijayendra commented.

He alleged that this confusion has led to a total breakdown of the state’s administrative machinery.

“We had insisted that the session should be held only after clarifying the leadership issue. Only then can we effectively address the challenges faced by farmers and others,” he emphasized.

Vijayendra stated that he had alerted the Chief Minister prior to the Belagavi winter session, urging that urgent matters related to farmers, agricultural workers, the impoverished, and weavers should be prioritized in discussions.

He criticized the ruling party and its ministers, labeling it unfortunate that they lack the patience to listen to opposition concerns.

He pointed out that the issues plaguing sugarcane farmers remain unsolved. “Approximately 54 lakh metric tonnes of maize are being cultivated in the state. Maize growers are calling for the establishment of procurement centers. Even though the Centre has set a support price of Rs 2,400, these centers have not been opened in a timely manner,” he alleged.

This has compelled farmers to sell maize to intermediaries at prices ranging from Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,700 per quintal, he noted.

Vijayendra also accused the government of failing to distribute crop compensation properly, even three months after its announcement.

He highlighted the poor condition of roads across the state due to heavy rains, asserting that development has stalled, corruption has reached unprecedented levels, and the government is unresponsive to the plight of farmers.