<p>Bengaluru: Arsikere MLA Shivalinge Gowda said on Monday that he is a "strong contender" for a ministerial position in the government and the Congress leadership has assured him of a berth in the next term.</p>.<p>"I am a strong contender. I am a four-time MLA and want to become a minister. I won’t concede that. But the right time must come for that. Leaders have assured me that I will be made a minister in the next term. Till then, I won’t react,” he said.</p>.<p>Gowda, a three-time MLA from JD(S), switched to Congress before the 2023 elections and became MLA for the fourth time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the issue of CM change, Gowda said: “Our national president (Mallikarjun Kharge) has asked us not to speak about this. We must abide by the direction. This discussion is irrelevant.”</p>
<p>Bengaluru: Arsikere MLA Shivalinge Gowda said on Monday that he is a "strong contender" for a ministerial position in the government and the Congress leadership has assured him of a berth in the next term.</p>.<p>"I am a strong contender. I am a four-time MLA and want to become a minister. I won’t concede that. But the right time must come for that. Leaders have assured me that I will be made a minister in the next term. Till then, I won’t react,” he said.</p>.<p>Gowda, a three-time MLA from JD(S), switched to Congress before the 2023 elections and became MLA for the fourth time.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On the issue of CM change, Gowda said: “Our national president (Mallikarjun Kharge) has asked us not to speak about this. We must abide by the direction. This discussion is irrelevant.”</p>