Congress leaders stood in support of CM Siddaramaiah

Bengaluru/Belagavi: Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has made it clear that he will never bow down to the BJP in the MUDA dispute, if such a situation arises, he may suggest one of his close confidants in the Cabinet for the top post. Sources said Siddaramaiah would like to make his representative the next Chief Minister, to checkmate Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge recently issued a statement, saying whether Siddaramaiah remains the Chief Minister or not, the party will move forward. It was against this backdrop that Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara, Social Welfare Minister Dr HC Mahadevappa and PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi held meetings among themselves and with Siddaramaiah. They wanted an SC or ST leader from the AHINDA group to become the Chief Minister. Satish carried this message to Delhi and offered the post to Kharge, which he declined, sources told The New Sunday Express.

But, political analysts pointed out that Siddaramaiah has the support of AICC general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and is unlikely to step down. If such a situation arises, he will have his say as the Congress high command also wants a smooth transfer of power. “In such circumstances, Satish, who has stood behind Siddaramaiah for decades, may come to the forefront,” said a Congress leader. The coterie of ministers around Siddaramaiah, especially the Dalits, have also realised that if they do not stake claim to the top post now, they may miss the bus. The Congress leader said this is why they held the meeting with the consent of the CM. Top Congress sources said Satish, who was sent by Siddaramaiah to meet Kharge in New Delhi two days ago, has clearly conveyed that he has the support of 68 MLAs and deserves to become the CM if Siddaramaiah resigns. Coming out of the meeting with Kharge, Satish said they discussed politics, but he did not reveal details. Sources said that given Satish’s popularity and the support he enjoys from legislators and backward communities in the state, the party leadership feels that Satish can prevent the political victory of Shivakumar, who is also a strong contender for the top post. They said that within a week it will be clear whether Siddaramaiah will continue as CM or make room for either Satish or Shivakumar in the top seat. Though the high command may be in favour of Satish, sources said it would want to see how the political crisis in the state unfolds after the ED tightened its grip on Siddaramaiah in the MUDA case. No talk of change in CM: DKS Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president DK Shivakumar on Saturday said that PWD Minister Satish Jarkiholi’s meeting with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge should not be misinterpreted. He said, “Who else should our leaders meet other than the party president? Our leaders have the same relationship with our president as we have with the media. Whenever I go to Delhi, I meet my president. I am in touch with him every day and am reporting to him on the developments in the party.” Shivakumar said the issue of leadership change was not discussed. On AICC general secretary KC Venugopal’s visit to the state on October 15, Shivakumar said he was not aware of it. He said, ”I do not need to go to Delhi right now.”