Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday again brushed aside rumors of a change of guard in the state leadership, asserting categorically that he would remain in the position for the entire five-year term. "Yes, I will be the Chief Minister for five years. Do you have any doubt?" Siddaramaiah said to reporters. At the same time, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar remarked, "What choice I have, I have to stick with him, I have to back him. Whatever high command instructs me to do I have to do that."
The statement by the two senior Karnataka leaders comes at a time of weeks of public support by party legislators urging DK Shivakumar to be raised to the Chief Minister's position in the middle of the term.
Siddaramaiah's claim is interpreted as an attempt to end all political gossip regarding possible change of leadership within the Karnataka state government. It also comes after Congress General Secretary Randeep Surjewala's denial on Tuesday that there was no change of leadership in Karnataka.
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Siddaramaiah also countered BJP leaders' allegations that the Congress would replace him halfway through. "The Bharatiya Janata Party will say anything. Are they our high command?" he remarked, indicating internal affairs of the Congress party would not be dictated by their political opponents.
Shivakumar's Wednesday comment, though, differs from what he stated one day before. On Tuesday, he declared that he was not looking to become Chief Minister and his priority is consolidating the Congress before the 2028 Assembly elections.
“Discipline stands as the highest priority of the Congress,” Shivakumar told the media. When asked about MLAs openly supporting him to take over as Chief Minister, Shivakumar responded, “I don't want anyone's support. I’m not aspiring for the Chief Minister post now. My aspiration is to see that Congress comes to power in 2028. That is my priority.”
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