Siddaramaiah flip-flops on his ‘CM tenure’ creates ripples, what other Cong leaders said

New Delhi: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday told press that he will continue to be lead the government for full five-year term, thereby putting all talks of mid-term change in the leadership to rest. Notably, the power-sharing agreement for the top post, after Congress stormed to power in Karnataka, has been a nagging issue for the party’s Karnataka unit as Siddaramaiah & DK Shivakumar-led factions got engaged in intense feud.

A day after categorical assertion of staying full five-years as Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah did a U-turn on Friday and said that he was bound by the decision of high command on ‘CM tenure’.

Siddaramaiah told the press in Gadag today that he won’t reply to any CM-changing question now onwards.

“I say something and you write something else. On Thursday itself, I had said I am bound by the high command’s decision as ours is a high-command abiding party.”

Siddaramaiah’s comment that stirred row

“For five years, it’ll be our (Congress) government. I’m the chief minister now, and I’ll continue,” Siddaramaiah had told the press when questioned about possible leadership change after mid-term of the state government.
Siddaramaiah’s office rather put it more explicitly, “I am going to continue as chief minister for five years.”

Interestingly, Siddramaiah’s statement came a day after AICC secretary Randeep Surjewala’s warning to top party leaders, ministers to refrain from speaking on issues like CM tenure.

How other Congress leaders reacted

Siddaramaiah’s statement was apparently aimed at settling the speculations of mid-term change but this created more heartburn within the party as factions led by other heavyweights ‘stepped up their bid’ for the top post.

Notably, DK Shivakumar, Dr G Parameshwara are two top CM aspirants in the party while lately Mallikarjun Kharge’s son Priyanka Kharge has also throwed his hat in the ring. For the uninitiated, a tug of war had ensued in the Congress party after it snatched power from BJP and got vertically divided within over who would the government.

During Siddaramaiah’s press meet, DK Shivakumar was also present but he stayed mum despite the former declaring his stamp on the post for full 5-year term. However, the disappointment & anger is palpable in DK Shivakumar’s ranks as they are not ready to budge and give more ground to Sidda camp.

Shivakumar, in Hubballi today, made it a point to address the issue, though without sharing any partisan view.

“Did we tell you about the power-sharing agreement when we took oath in May? Why are you unnecessarily creating things? It’s not necessary,” he said.

Meanwhile, minister Priyank Kharge is also not holding back. He made his desire to gain charge of the top post, pretty clear.

“Siddaramaiah’s statement is personal. The high command should decide on this. Four people in Delhi will sit together and decide these issues. If they say I will be CM, I will say yes to it. Barring those four, whoever talks has no value, a top daily quoted him as saying.

For another CM aspirant Karnataka home minister Parameshwara, state cooperation minister KR Rajann said that he has all that it takes to become CM.