Not moving to national politics, says Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah amid speculation over AICC role

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday sought to dismiss any suggestion of a possible shift to national politics, speculation about which has been rife following his appointment to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) OBC Advisory Council.

Siddaramaiah, who offered tribute to former Deputy Prime Minister Babu Jagjivan Ram on the occasion of his death anniversary at Vidhana Soudha, said, “There is no question of my moving to national politics.”

Drawing attention to discrepancies in the various reports published about his appointment, Siddaramaiah said, “I don’t even know what post I have been appointed to. I will respond once I understand all the details. I have not sought any position at the national level in the party.”

The CM said that he had not officially been briefed about his role by the AICC. “If the AICC has given me a post, it’s not something one can ignore. Whether I have been made a co-ordinator or have been appointed to another role, I can only confirm after speaking to the high command. I won’t comment about it in public till then.”

Asked if he would accept the position, Siddaramaiah asked, “Should I run away when I am entrusted with the responsibility?”

However, reports about the CM’s appointment to an AICC post are based on an unsigned letter. In fact, Siddaramaiah admitted that he learnt about the appointment only through the media. In a post on ‘X’, however, Siddaramaiah clarified that he had only been nominated as a member to the AICC OBC Advisory Council and had not been appointed its president.

The CM said that he would be hosting an upcoming meeting of the council, to be chaired by Dr Anil Jaihind on July 15 at the KPCC headquarters.

The event will be attended by around 50 leaders, former CMs among them, besides many MPs and legislators, all of whom will deliberate on key issues that OBC communities are dealing with.

‘No change in guarantee schemes’

Queried about statements made by Congress MLA Basavaraj Rayareddy, also an economic advisor to the CM, about the government’s guarantee schemes, Siddaramaiah said, “There is no question of altering the guarantee schemes. The schemes are being implemented to uplift the poor.” Siddaramaiah added that the government was also ensuring allocation of funds for a number of infrastructure projects such as construction of roads in rural areas, and bridges.

MLAs of all parties were being provided with funds for development of their respective constituencies, said the CM.