Clamour for clarity on keeping D K Shivakumar as state Congress chief

Bengaluru: Power tussle in the ruling Congress is showing no signs of ending with a section of leaders mounting pressure on the high command to decide on removing Deputy CM D K Shivakumar as the party's state president. 

On Wednesday, Public Works Minister Satish Jarakiholi demanded a "full-time" party president, and asked the high command to clear the confusion surrounding Shivakumar's tenure. 

"It is everybody's opinion that we need a full-time president. There was a resolution that the post must be vacated after Lok Sabha polls. This is in writing. There's a note by (Congress general secretary) K C Venugopal. So, the party should either tell us that Shivakumar will continue or that someone else will be appointed," Satish, a close aide of CM Siddaramaiah said. 

It is widely believed that Siddaramaiah's loyalists want the high command to enforce the 'one person, one post' rule on Shivakumar. Specifically, the attempt is to have someone else replace Shivakumar as the state unit president. 

According to Satish, the new party chief should be "someone capable and popular who brings in votes". 

Satish said he told Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala that the high command should decide soon about the party president's post. The minister met Surjewala after the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting on Monday night.

"Organisational activities have reduced. It's not as active as in 2023," Satish said. "We've become ministers and are confined to our portfolios and districts. So, we need someone who gives time to party."

Notably, Satish said Congress MLAs should decide on the party's presidential nominee. "We have nearly 140 MLAs. They have to decide on this. The CM and deputy CM should ask all MLAs," he said. 

By wanting MLAs to have a say in this, the CM's camp may be trying to project that Shivakumar does not enjoy the support of many lawmakers. Going forward, if and when Shivakumar stakes claim on CM's post, the Siddaramaiah camp may seek a show of hands by MLAs. 

Satish conceded that some in Congress want him to become next party president. "Some MLAs are saying that I should be president... that it should be an Ahinda leader," he said.