Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (right) with his deputy D K Shivakumar.
Credit: PTI Photo
Over the past month, the Karnataka government has been undergoing an internal turmoil as questions abound over power sharing between Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. These speculations were laid to rest on Friday when Siddaramaiah stated that the Congress high command was “in my favour.”
The past month has seen tensions rise between Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah over a potential leadership change in the state.
While speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, Siddaramaiah clearly said he never mentioned that he would be chief minister for only two-and-a-half years.
"I have completed a five-year term once. I am the Chief Minister now. I believe, the high command is my favour. I will continue till the high command orders," he said.
When Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka sought know if the Congress Legislature Party had chosen him as leader for five years or two-and-a-half years, the Chief Minister said, "There was no decision on two-and-a half years".
While speaking to the media, Shivakumar said on Friday that he along with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah did reach an agreement on power sharing.
However, when questioned regarding Siddaramaiah's comments on completing the five-year-term, he said, “I have never said he (Siddaramaiah) won’t be there for five years. I have also not said that high command was not in his favour. He (Siddaramaiah) is the CM of the state because the high command is with him.”
Shivakumar said the power-sharing agreement was forged by the high command and both Shivakumar and Siddaramaiah will go by it.
The power tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculations about a change in Chief Minister in the State, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
The speculation was fuelled by a rumoured "power-sharing" pact between Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar when the government was formed in 2023.