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Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah’s statement comes amid persistent buzz of a “rotational CM formula” and claims by a former Congress MP that DK Shivakumar will be in office by November
Congress leader Siddaramaiah said he will continue as CM of Karnataka for the next 2.5 years. (Image: PTI/File)
Dismissing renewed speculation over a leadership change in Karnataka, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah asserted he will complete his five-year term in office.
Even as supporters of deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar in the ruling Congress hinted at a change after the Bihar assembly elections, Siddaramaiah said he will continue as CM for the next 2.5 years.
“I will continue as CM for the remaining 2.5 years,” Siddaramaiah said. “They said I won’t become CM for a second time, but I did and will continue for another 2.5 years.”
His statement comes amid persistent buzz of a “rotational CM formula” and a sensational claim by a former MP and Congress leader that Shivakumar will be in office by November.
Addressing the media in Mysuru, Siddaramaiah highlighted his past political successes. “They said a crow sat on my car and I will lose the CM seat and won’t be able to table the budget. But I was in power for 2 years after that and I presented the budget. Now again I am CM for the past 2.5 years and I will continue for 2.5 years more,” he said, referring to superstitious comments in the past about his tenure as CM.
WHAT IS THE RENEWED BUZZ ALL ABOUT?
Siddaramaiah’s strong assertion follows a controversial statement by former MP and Congress spokesperson LR Shivarame Gowda, which has once again fuelled political debate in state politics.
Speaking in Nagamangala, Gowda made a high-stakes prediction that Shivakumar will “100%” become the CM by November. He suggested that all signs point to leadership change, directly challenging the Congress high command’s efforts to maintain public unity on the issue.
“There are no second thoughts about DKS (as DK Shivakumar is popularly known) becoming CM. The high command will decide it and they know when to do it. Everyone will get their due, for the work they have done. As far as I know, the Congress party will decide this once and for all in November,” Gowda said.
The latest speculation comes from a recent flare-up in an ongoing power struggle dating back to the Congress victory in 2023 assembly elections. Following a period of intense negotiation, the party high command had brokered a compromise appointing veteran leader Siddaramaiah as CM and Karnataka unit president Shivakumar as his deputy.
Political circles have since been rife with unconfirmed reports of a “rotational CM formula”, suggesting that Siddaramaiah will hand over the reins to Shivakumar after two-and-a-half years, a milestone that aligns with the upcoming November timeline. While the Congress central leadership and key state figures have repeatedly denied any such formal agreement, statements from supporters of the deputy CM, often hinting at a post-Bihar poll decision, have consistently kept the issue alive.
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi…Read More
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi… Read More
October 01, 2025, 19:35 IST
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