Opposition can’t sleep without talking about CM & me: D K Shivakumar

Bengaluru: Taking a swipe at the opposition in the Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday remarked that the opposition appeared ‘not to get any sleep’ without speaking about him, CM Siddaramaiah and their power equation.

During a debate on the Budget, Siddaramaiah pointed out that Leader of Opposition R Ashoka had served as a BBMP Minister in the past. When Ashoka remarked that Bengaluru was his birthplace, Siddaramaiah said, “Oh, you were born here, and became an MLA here too. Earlier, it was Uttarahalli, now it’s Padmanabhanagar.”

Siddaramaiah also remarked on Ashoka’s bid to contest from Kanakapura in the 2023 Assembly polls, when the latter lost to Shivakumar by a margin of 1,22,392 votes – Ashoka, in fact, came in third in that battle.

“Had Shivakumar contested from Padmanabhanagar, he would’ve lost,” rejoined Ashoka. Siddaramaiah, however, contended that Shivakumar would most certainly emerge triumphant in the battle.

“He (Shivakumar) won there, but lost against you (Siddaramaiah),” quipped Ashoka.

The CM replied that the Congress high command had the last word on the leadership question. The Deputy CM, however, said, “If you don’t speak about the two of us, you don’t get sleep.”

When Ashoka said that it was the Deputy CM who was not getting sleep, Shivakumar replied, “It was because I did not sleep that I got the party to power.”

Siddaramaiah pointed out that the BJP too had to abide by the decisions taken by the saffron party’s central leadership.

“If Ashoka is asked whether he will become the chief minister, will he say anything? He too will say that the party leadership will decide,” said Siddaramaiah.