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A faction of MLAs backing Shivakumar has been pushing for him to take over as chief minister since the 2023 Assembly election
The deputy CM also refuted talks of factions in the party. (FIle Image)
Anyone in this world has to live on hope, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said on Tuesday when asked if he would replace Siddaramaiah as the CM.
A faction of MLAs backing Shivakumar has been pushing for him to take over as chief minister since the 2023 Assembly election. However, the Congress party picked veteran leader Siddaramaiah.
This summer, the CM debate resurfaced after Channagiri MLA Basavaraju V Shivaganga claimed that Shivakumar would become the next Karnataka chief minister, sparking speculation about a leadership change in the state. However, the party high command intervened and placated the situation.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave South 2025, the Congress leader put the ball in the court of the Congress high command, which he said has to decide on the leadership change.
“Time will answer. I will not answer. Only time has to answer. Anyone in this world has to live on hope. Without hope, there is no life,” Shivakumar said when asked if he would take over as the CM for the remaining term of the Congress government.
The deputy CM also refuted talks of factions in the party and said, “There is only one faction, the Indian National Congress faction.”
He also said that he will remain with the Congress party till his death. “I am a born Congressman, and I will die as a Congressman,” he said.
Karnataka Congress in-charge Randeep Surjewala’s visit to the state in June added fuel to the speculation of leadership change. However, after the multiple meetings, Siddaramaiah said that he would remain the chief minister for the full five-year term.
#WATCH | Mysuru: Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM DK Shivakumar address a press conference in Mysuru.CM Siddaramaiah says, “Our government will last for 5 years like a rock.” pic.twitter.com/JCuwcp43Qb
— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2025
Shivakumar had also said that there is no vacancy for the CM post, putting an end to rumours.
“What option do I have? I have to stand by him and support him. I don’t have any objection to it. Whatever the party high command tells and whatever they decide, it will be fulfilled…I don’t want to discuss anything now. Lakhs of workers are supporting this party,” he had said.
#WATCH | Chikkaballapur | On CM Siddaramaiah, Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar says, “What option do I have? I have to stand by him and support him. I don’t have any objection to it. Whatever the party high command tells and whatever they decide, it will be fulfilled…I don’t… pic.twitter.com/E438mmq8cy— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2025
Later, Karnataka Congress president Shivakumar also issued a notice to party MLA Iqbal Hussain for his statement regarding the possible change of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. “Your public statement to the media has caused embarrassment to the Congress party. The statement you made is also considered a violation of party discipline,” read the notice.
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
September 09, 2025, 13:40 IST
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