Congress high command should end confusion: Siddaramaiah amid Karnataka power tussle

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah mounted pressure on the Congress high command on Tuesday to clear the air over his tenure, admitting that there was “confusion” in the party. 

“The high command has to decide to put a full stop to this confusion,” Siddaramaiah told reporters. 

Power tussle in the governing Congress has intensified after it completed two-and-a-half years in office on November 20, when a team of legislators loyal to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar travelled to Delhi seeking Siddaramaiah’s replacement. 

“Let them (legislators) go. MLAs have that freedom. Let’s see what opinion they give. Ultimately, it’s the high command that has to decide. We’ll abide by whatever the high command says,” Siddaramaiah said. 

Siddaramaiah’s plan to reshuffle his Cabinet also seems paused. The initial indication was that top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had given his ‘green signal’ for the exercise when Siddaramaiah met him on November 15. On Tuesday, however, Siddaramaiah said: “The Cabinet reshuffle will happen when the high command gives its nod.” 

Asked if he planned on meeting Rahul again, Siddaramaiah said: “No.” 

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah’s loyalists asserted that there was no power-sharing deal with Shivakumar. 

“When Siddaramaiah was elected as the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader, there was no condition that was imposed as far as we know,” Energy Minister KJ George said. 

Housing Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan also said there was no deal between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. “Siddaramaiah will continue as CM until 2028,” he said, adding that the high command would soon end the imbroglio. 

Chief Minister’s Economic Advisor Basavaraj Rayareddi claimed that Siddaramaiah enjoys the support of the Lingayat community. “According to me, there won’t be any change. Shivakumar himself hasn’t said anywhere that he wants to become the CM,” he said.

“If there will be a change, a CLP meeting should be called where I’ll ask why Siddaramaiah should be replaced,” he said.