Siddaramaiah loses cool over power-sharing query

Bengaluru: A day after Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar landed in Delhi fuelling speculations over the power-transfer talks, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lost his cool, after reporters asked him about Shivakumar’s claim that his talks (power-sharing) with Siddaramaiah were not “secret” but made in the presence of the high command.

“Don’t you have anything else to ask? It’s been three months since you started repeating the same question. Don’t ask me again. The high command knows everything. They will decide and I will go by what the high command says. How many times should I repeat...?,” fumed Siddaramaiah, while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

“I will abide by the high command. So should Shivakumar. Don’t keep repeating the question over and over again. If he (Shivakumar) has spoken about anything, you’d better ask him about it,” said a visibly upset CM, before leaving in a huff.

Former MP D K Suresh, also the younger brother of Shivakumar, told reporters in Bengaluru that he was “confident” that Siddaramaiah would “keep his word” (and step down). “I reiterate that the CM will keep his word. I trust it will happen even if it gets a bit delayed.”

When reporters asked what was the need for Shivakumar to meet the party high command if everything was going as per plan, Suresh said, “Meeting the high command is a norm in the Congress party and whenever Shivakumar goes to Delhi, he meets the leaders as it improves the bond. There are many issues related to the party and the constituency that need to be discussed.”

With rumours of both camps getting into a huddle in Delhi, or planning to stay put in a resort or fly abroad, to “keep the pressure” on the high command, Congress leaders hope the leadership will intervene and put an end to the guessing game.
Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi, who identifies with the Siddaramaiah camp, said, “Whatever we all speak is inconsequential. If the people concerned speak up, it gains importance.”

Magadi MLA and Shivakumar’s aide H C Balakrishna said, “Despite all the good work, the guarantees given by the Congress party, the power-sharing issue will prove to be a major setback for the party in the upcoming elections. I feel the high command should come up with a suitable solution.”