Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah (L), his son Yathindra Siddaramaiah.
Credit: DH File Photo
Belagavi: Power tussle in Congress escalated again Thursday when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s son Dr Yathindra categorically ruled out change in leadership for now.
Yathindra, an MLC, told reporters: "There’s no tussle for CM’s post. I’ve told you, everything is clear. The high command has clearly said that as of now, there will be no change".
Reacting to this, Siddaramaiah said: "The high command will make the final decision." Shivakumar said the CM would reply to Yathindra.
But Yathindra’s statement appeared to have antagonised Shivakumar’s camp. "If I speak, it is balatkara (forcible). If he (Yathindra) speaks, it is chamatkara (magic)," Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain said, suggesting that the Congress should issue a notice to Yathindra for indiscipline. Hussain was given a notice in July this year for speaking out of turn.
Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan said, "Does anybody have the guts to change the CM? Only high command can," he said.