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Speculations have been rife that DK Shivakumar might replace Siddaramaiah as Karnataka Chief Minister.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar. (PTI)
Amid recurring speculations of leadership change in Karnataka, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Friday said that the answer regarding the matter has already been given and it’s “unnecessary” to make a comment “again and again”.
His remarks came amid ongoing speculations of him taking over the reins of power from CM Siddaramaiah as a power tussle continues between the two leaders.
“The answer has already been given (by CM Siddaramaiah and Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala). When an answer has been provided, it’s not good to speak again and again, and asking the same thing again and again is also not right. You don’t want to make any comment now, and it’s unnecessary.” Shivakumar told reporters.
“I don’t want to comment on Siddaramaiah’s statement on CM issue. He has the right to make any comment. I am the Karnataka Congress President,” he added.
Reacting to the MLAs’ demand that he should replace Siddaramaiah, the Congress leader said, “There will be aspirational statements by some, it could be you as well, but it’s unnecessary to make a comment now”.
Earlier in the day, Siddaramaiah once again rejected rumours about a possible change in Karnataka’s leadership. He clearly stated that there has been no talk with the Congress high command about replacing the Chief Minister.
“How many times do I have to say this? The issue of the Karnataka CM post was never discussed. Not at all,” Siddaramaiah said on Friday.
Siddaramaiah is currently in Delhi and had met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge along with other senior leaders on Thursday, which had led to fresh rumours about a possible change in the CM position.
He took to X and said that he met Kharge, with whom “several important issues” were discussed.
“In Delhi today, AICC leaders and senior state leaders met Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence and held discussions on several important issues,” he said.
Earlier, Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala held individual meetings with Congress MLAs, which led to speculation that the party might hand over the Chief Minister’s post to DK Shivakumar.
However, CM Siddaramaiah told reporters that Surjewala had clearly said the meetings with MLAs were not
related to any leadership change.
“The state Congress in-charge has rejected talks of changing the Chief Minister and said there is no reason for
such speculation. These rumours are being spread by the media, and there has been no discussion about changing the CM within the Congress party,” Siddaramaiah said.
(With ANI inputs)
Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes…Read More
Ashesh Mallick is a Sub-Editor with over three years of experience in news writing, video production. He primarily covers national news, politics and global affairs. You can follow him on Twitter: @MallickAshes… Read More
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