80-90 MLAs want D K Shivakumar as CM: Iqbal Hussain

Bengaluru: Ramanagara Congress MLA Iqbal Hussain on Monday claimed that 80-90 lawmakers in the party want Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to become the chief minister. 

"There are 80-90 MLAs who've asked the party to give Shivakumar an opportunity in order to ensure Congress retains power in the next election," Hussain, a Shivakumar loyalist, said. 

"Some are quiet. But I'm open about it. I want to see Shivakumar become the CM. I've been sincere about this," Hussain said. 

Hussain's statement comes a few days after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's son-MLC Yathindra claimed that the Congress high command had "given the signal" and that his father would continue at the helm.