It has been over four months since Siddaramaiah took oath as the chief minister, but the post is still a topic of hot debate for the Congress.
Published Nov 03, 2023 | 9:21 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 06, 2023 | 6:09 PM
The ministers of Karnataka government during the oath taking ceremony. (Supplied)
Barely a day after All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders issued warnings to Karnataka Congress leaders and cadres not to speak out of turn, talks of whether the chief minister would change continued unabated.
It has been over four months since Siddaramaiah took oath as the chief minister of Karnataka, but the post is still a topic of hot debate for the Congress.
Even before he took the oath, the struggle for the post was causing the grand old party a headache, with Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee chief DK Shivakumar demanding it. The issue was settled with Shivakumar being given the deputy chief minister’s position.
Even though Siddaramaiah underlined on Thursday, 2 November, that he would be completing the full term as the chief minister, Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday made no secret of his desire to occupy the top post if luck was on his side.
Parameshwara was reacting to Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna’s wish to see him as the chief minister someday.
During an event in the district headquarters town of Tumakuru, Rajanna said, “Parameshwara is the home minister today. Anything can happen in future. He has the good fortune. I believe that he has the luck (of becoming chief minister) in the coming days. We will work to ‘supplement’ the luck. There is no doubt about it.”
Stating that having a chief minister from the district would make the people there happy, Rajanna said, “If he (Parameshwara) becomes one, then we all get the feeling of becoming chief minister.”
The 72-year-old Parameshwara, a former Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president, said, “I am grateful to Rajanna. I too desire for that luck to happen.”
He, however, said he did not know when he could be elevated. “There are many eligible candidates (who can become the chief minister). Let everyone get a chance,” he said.
He answered in the negative to questions about any discussions on this issue when Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar visited his house in Tumakuru.
Meanwhile, Karnataka IT&BT Minister Priyank Kharge told reporters the issue of change of guard was decided by “four people in Delhi”.
“As I have said, four people sit together in Delhi (and decide). Barring those four people, whoever talks has no value. And the high command should decide. If the high command says that I am the chief minister, then I will say ‘yes’ to it,” he said.
Shivakumar’s brother and Lok Sabha member DK Suresh said there was no point in discussing speculative questions when the chief minister’s post was not vacant.
“Siddaramaiah is the chief minister. The chief minister’s post is not vacant. This matter should be discussed when the post is lying vacant. What is the use of such talks (now)?” asked Suresh.
He added that the people of Karnataka had given the Congress five years to rule the state.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar have the target of ensuring the smooth functioning of the government, he noted.
Siddaramaiah on Thursday asserted that he would hold the office for a full five years.
The clarification came in the wake of speculation within a section of the Congress about a change in leadership after two and a half years of the incumbent government’s tenure.
“Who has made the confusing statement? If someone useless speaks, why do you give importance to it?” Siddaramaiah asked reporters when talking about repeated statements from those within the party about the change of chief minister.
Asked to give clarity on whether he would head the government for a full five years, he said, “For five years our government will be there…I’m the chief minister, I will continue.”
On the speculation about having three more deputy chief ministers, he asked, “Who said (this)? All this is decided by the high command. The Congress is not a regional party. It is a national party. Nothing can be decided without discussing it with the high command. Neither I — as the chief minister — nor MLAs can change the government. We have the high command; they will decide.”
Ever since this government came to power, there have been claims and counterclaims from within the Congress about the chief minister being changed.
One persistent refrain has been that Siddaramaiah might have to make way for Shivakumar after two and a half years of this dispensation.
Siddaramaiah was sworn in as the chief minister on 20 May after the Congress posted a landslide victory, ousting the BJP from power.
There was stiff competition between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the chief minister’s post after the Assembly election results came out.
The Congress managed to convince the latter to accept the post of deputy chief minister.
There were some reports at the time that a compromise had been reached, according to which Shivakumar would become the chief minister after two and a half years, but this was not officially confirmed by the party.
