Surjewala downplays leadership issue as pro-DKS clamour continues

Bengaluru: Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala said on Tuesday that uncertainty over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership was “no longer an issue” even as a few lawmakers maintained that they want to see Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar replace the incumbent.

Speaking on the sidelines of his meetings with Congress MLAs, Surjewala said he has already addressed the leadership topic. “I don’t think that’s an issue any longer,” he said. 

On some MLAs continuing to speak publicly on the matter, Surjewala said: “Somebody can have desires. A journalist can desire to become the editor. But ultimately, it’s the owner of a channel who’ll pick an editor.” 

Meanwhile, Channapatna MLA CP Yogeshwar entered the issue and batted for Shivakumar to become the chief minister.

He even said that he would prefer Shivakumar becoming the CM more than his own ministerial aspiration. 

“All MLAs in our (Bengaluru South) district are united in wanting Shivakumar to become the CM. Even people of our district want this. The high command should decide,” Yogeshwar said. “I don’t want to become a minister. First, Shivakumar should become the CM.” 

Ramanagara MLA Iqbal Hussain, who was given a show-cause notice for saying that 100 lawmakers want Shivakumar to become the CM, stood his ground. “It’s the last day for me to reply to the notice. I will stand by what I said,” he said. 

On Tuesday, Surjewala continued his one-on-one meetings with Congress MLAs. 

“Many MLAs can have issues and problems. I’ve told them to give it to me in writing. We’re settling them one by one,” Surjewala said. 

Surjewala also played down the New Delhi visit of Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. “There’s no bar on them travelling to Delhi. They often travel to Delhi for government work and to plead the state’s case before the Centre. They’re doing their duty,” he said. 

‘Crushing tur dal farmers’

Surjewala accused the Modi administration of “crushing” tur dal farmers through its policies, which he said caused an annual loss of Rs 1,550 crore. 

The Centre is promoting farmers in Myanmar, Tanzania, Mozambique, Australia, Africa and Canada while “denying” fair prices to farmers here, Surjewala charged. In 2024-25, the MSP for tur dal was Rs 7,550 per quintal and was revised to Rs 8,000 for 2025-26. Surjewala said farmers in Karnataka were forced to sell their produce at Rs 6,000 per quintal last year, even as the state produced 10 lakh quintals.