‘Unruly’: Congress Issues Notice To Former MP, Asks Him To Explain ‘100% DKS To Be CM’ Remark – Delhi News Daily

Congress leader LR Shivarame Gowda has been asked to submit his explanation in a week. (Image: ANI)

Hours after Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar warned his colleagues against publicly discussing the chief minister’s post, the ruling Congress issued a notice to former MP LR Shivarame Gowda on Thursday.

The Congress asked Gowda to provide an explanation about his comments on leadership change in Karnataka, which renewed speculation around whether Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will complete his five-year term in office. He has been asked to submit his reply in a week.

On Wednesday (October 1), Gowda said “100% there is no doubt” that DK Shivakumar will become CM and a decision will be taken in November. In fact, he said it was the deputy CM, who had told them that the high command has assured him that he will be in office for the next two-and-a-half years.

“There is no doubt about DK Shivakumar becoming the CM…Party knows what to do and when to do; those who have worked for the party will be benefitted 100%, there is no doubt in that. As per my information, there will be one decision in November, DK told us that the high command assured them of two and a half years for both (Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar for CM),” Gowda told reporters.

The notice to Gowda comes after Shivakumar instructed Karnataka Congress president GC Chandrashekar to serve notices to those who spoke on CM change.

The notice to Gowda stated that he has made “unruly” statements on the change of CM despite the party’s instructions not to go public on this matter. In doing so, he has violated party discipline and caused embarrassment to the Congress, it said.

“It is learnt through the media that LR Shivarame Gowda made a statement to the media yesterday regarding the change of Chief Minister. You made this statement despite the AICC’s instructions not to make any public statements on this issue that may cause any confusion or embarrassment to the party,” the notice stated.

It added: “Your media statements in this regard not only embarrass the party but also lead to violation of party discipline. We have taken your unruly statements seriously and have issued you a notice asking for this reason. You have been asked to provide an explanation for your statements within one week of receiving this notice.”

Earlier, Shivakumar issued a warning that there is no need to react to the BJP regarding internal leadership matters of the Congress.

“We don’t need to react to what the BJP says. Let them say what they want to say. I have instructed our working president, GC Chandrashekar, to give notice to them. No one should say anything related to the CM post,” Shivakumar told reporters.

He added: “No need to discuss the CM post sharing. CM Siddaramaiah and I are working together. We are following the guidelines of the high command.”

Shivakumar’s short reaction came after another Congress leader, MLA HD Ranganath, said he wished to see his “political guru” (referring to the deputy CM) ascending the CM’s post one day.

After the Congress won the 2023 assembly election in Karnataka, there has been much speculation around the “rotational CM formula” between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar. Immediately after the elections, there were several rounds of talks following which the former was chosen to lead the state.

Back then, there were reports that Shivakumar had agreed to the rotational CM arrangement but the Congress never made an official statement on this.

More recently, many central leaders and Siddaramaiah have said there was no such agreement even as the CM asserted that he will complete his five-year term in office.

Reacting to the persistent buzz on this so-called policy, Siddaramaiah said: “I will continue as CM for the remaining 2.5 years. They said I won’t become CM for a second time, but I did and will continue for another 2.5 years. 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.”