An apparent power struggle is intensifying in Karnataka, as a group of MLAs loyal to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has travelled to New Delhi to urge the party high command to "honour the promise" of sharing the top post, following the Congress government under Siddaramaiah completing two and a half years in office.
However, top sources within the Congress indicate that there is no official discussion regarding a change in the Karnataka Chief Minister, despite the ongoing buzz.
More than 10 legislators, including a minister, from the Shivakumar camp travelled to the national capital on Thursday, with several others expected to follow on Friday. The MLAs plan to meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and General Secretary KC Venugopal to press their demand that the party implement what they claim was an internal power-sharing arrangement agreed upon in 2023.
Those who reached Delhi on Thursday include Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy and MLAs Iqbal Hussain, HC Balakrishna, and SR Srinivas. Earlier on Tuesday, MLAs Ravi Ganiga, Gubbi Vasu, Dinesh Gooligowda, and others had already arrived in Delhi to take up the issue with the party leadership. Sources also expect MLAs Anekal Shivanna, Nelamangala Srinivas, Kunigal Ranganath, Shivaganga Basavaraju, and Balakrishna to reach the capital on Friday.
The push by Shivakumar loyalists comes a day after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah completed two-and-a-half years in office. Amid the tension, the Congress is, reportedly, bracing for a critical round of internal negotiations on Monday.
Amid these fast-paced developments, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah abruptly cancelled his two-day tour of Mysuru and Chamarajanagar, which was scheduled for Friday and Saturday, and is returning to Bengaluru.
Addressing a gathering in Chamarajanagar on Thursday, Siddaramaiah reiterated that his position "has been strong from the beginning and will continue to remain so." When asked if he will continue as Chief Minister for five years, Siddaramaiah dismissed it as "an unnecessary debate."
He added that the issue of changing the Chief Minister has only come to the fore because it was suggested that the Cabinet could be reshuffled after two and a half years. "The party leaders need to make a decision on the cabinet reshuffle. There are a total of 34 ministerial posts, out of which two posts are vacant. These vacant ministerial positions will be filled during the cabinet reshuffle," he said.
Reacting to the sudden movement of MLAs to Delhi, Shivakumar distanced himself, saying he was "not aware" of the developments and was "not keeping well." When asked about Siddaramaiah asserting his full five-year term, Shivakumar replied, "I am very glad about it. Our party has given him the responsibility to work as chief minister. We all are working together."
He also dismissed speculation about personal ambition, insisting he "doesn’t run away from responsibility" and will continue to serve as long as the Congress leadership wants him to, referencing his decision to step down as Karnataka Congress president.
Also read: Shivakumar, MLAs rush to Delhi amid power swap buzz
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