Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday, stated that he would comply with the Congress high command’s decision regarding a leadership change.
This announcement follows a political dispute within the ruling Congress party. Siddaramaiah’s comments came a few days after a Vokkaliga seer publicly urged him to step down and allow his deputy, DK Shivakumar, to take over.
“It is not a matter to be discussed in public. Whatever decision the High Command takes, we will go by it,” Siddaramaiah told reporters when asked about the Vishwa Vokkaligara Mahasamsthana Mutt seer Chandrashekhara Swami’s appeal.
“I don’t want to comment on what Swamiji says. Ours is a national party. There is a high command,” the Chief Minister added.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA Shivaganga Basavaraj has expressed support for DK Shivakumar to assume the role of Chief Minister.
Shivakumar, on the other hand, has cautioned leaders against making public statements regarding the leadership change and the potential creation of multiple Deputy Chief Minister positions.
“If anyone crosses the limit, the party will take a decision,” Shivakumar said.
It is notable that some ministers, considered close to Siddaramaiah, have called for the creation of additional Deputy Chief Minister positions to be allocated to leaders from the Lingayat, SC, ST, and minority communities, according to PTI.
This move is viewed by some as an attempt to diminish Shivakumar’s political influence, who is also the State party chief.
Reportedly, a compromise was reached based on a ‘rotational chief minister formula’, under which Shivakumar would become CM after two and a half years, though this has not been officially confirmed by the party, as per PTI.