Shivakumar, Siddaramaiah to meet Rahul Gandhi today amid fresh push to change CM
Siddaramaiah
and his deputy,
DK Shivakumar
, are set to meet Congress MP
Rahul Gandhi
in New Delhi Wednesday night, amid fresh demands from Shivakumar's supporters for a leadership transition in Karnataka.
The meeting comes at a time when tensions within the Congress state unit have resurfaced, with several MLAs publicly backing Shivakumar to take over the chief minister's post later this year. Shivakumar told reporters in New Delhi Tuesday, "The CM, AICC general secretaries, and I will hold a meeting to discuss party-related matters."
Asked if the meeting would deliberate on making Siddaramaiah the chairman of the party's OBC committee — seen by some as a possible soft exit strategy — he said: "Siddaramaiah is a prominent leader of the backward classes, and the party is making use of his leadership skills.
The national-level OBC committee meeting scheduled for July 15 will be held under his leadership in Bengaluru."
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He said that although Siddaramaiah may not formally head the committee, the meeting would be conducted under his leadership due to his stature and contribution to the OBC movement. "Congress is making use of his leadership and capabilities," Shivakumar said.
Asked about growing calls within the party for his elevation, Shivakumar said, "The CM post is not vacant.
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So, this is not the right time to talk about it."
The latest push for a change at the helm comes despite repeated denials from Congress' high command and Siddaramaiah himself, who has asserted he will complete a full five-year term. Shivakumar, too, has previously said he has no choice but to support the CM.
But several legislators, especially from Bengaluru south district, have reignited the debate. "All our district MLAs want Shivakumar to become CM.
There's no discrepancy about it. High command should decide," Channapatna MLA CP Yogeeshwara said Tuesday. "We, the MLAs, are demanding it… I want Shivakumar to become CM."
HA Iqbal Hussain, Ramanagara MLA and a staunch Shivakumar supporter, even suggested a change could happen within months. "Yes, I'm saying it. Some functionaries are hinting at revolutionary political developments after Sept. A decision will be made within 2-3 months," he said.
He went on to say: "You all know what our strength was before this govt was formed… His (Shivakumar's) strategy and programmes are history now. The high command is aware of the situation, and we are confident it will take an appropriate decision at the right time."
Senior Congress MLA and former minister Tanveer Sait, who is from Siddaramaiah's home district Mysuru said the party must be open to transition. "I feel leadership can't be stagnant.
New leaders must come and grow. Whenever the opportunity is given, it'll happen," he said.
Calls for a new CM come amid multiple meetings between Randeep Singh Surjewala, AICC general secretary in charge of Karnataka, with Congress MLAs to quell dissent. "The KPCC chief and I have spoken about this... Everyone can have ambitions and desires. I don't want to say anything more," Surjewala said.
Siddaramaiah will join Shivakumar in Delhi on Wednesday. Shivakumar is scheduled to meet defence minister Rajnath Singh ahead of the meeting with Rahul. It is unclear whether they will meet Singh jointly or separately.
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