NEW DELHI: Fresh calls have surfaced demanding that deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar be elevated to the top post, barely days after the Congress leadership asserted there would be no leadership change in Karnataka. Two Congress MLAs have now publicly thrown their weight behind him, signalling renewed tensions within the state unit.Senior leader and former minister Tanveer Sait said the party must remain open to change. “I feel leadership can’t be stagnant. New leadership has to come and grow. Whenever the opportunity is given, it’ll happen. But individual giving out statements shouldn’t be considered as protest,” Sait said.Congress MLA CP Yogeshwar echoed the sentiment and endorsed Shivakumar for the chief minister’s role.“All our district MLAs are united that DK should become chief minister. There’s no discrepancies about it. High command should decide on it,” he said.
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Should DK Shivakumar be elevated to the position of Chief Minister of Karnataka?
The latest push comes just after AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala reiterated that there would be no change and Siddaramaiah would continue as chief minister.Earlier, Congress MLA HA Iqbal Hussain had stirred speculation by claiming Shivakumar could be made CM within two to three months.“You all know what our (Congress’s) strength was before this government came to power. Everyone knows who put in the struggle, sweat, effort, and interest to achieve this victory. His (Shivakumar’s) strategy and programmes are history now,” Hussain said.“I don’t believe in speculation. We have full confidence that the high command is aware of the situation and will take an appropriate decision at the right time to give him an opportunity,” he added.Asked directly whether Shivakumar would be given the CM post this year, Hussain said: “Yes, I’m saying it. The date some leaders are hinting at for revolutionary political developments after September, this is what they are talking about. A decision will be made within two to three months.”“That’s what I’m saying. I’m not beating around the bush; I’m speaking directly,” he emphasised.When reminded that Siddaramaiah’s son, MLC Yathindra Siddaramaiah, had dismissed the buzz as speculation, Hussain pointed to the precedent of the party’s central leadership making the final call during the 2023 government formation.“We were all together in Delhi then. Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Mallikarjun Kharge made the decision. Everyone knows that. They will take the next decision too — we’ll have to wait and watch,” he said.Meanwhile, chief minister Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar later made a show of unity, appearing together before the media. When asked if they were on good terms, Siddaramaiah replied with a firm “yes” and raised Shivakumar’s hand in a symbolic gesture. On talk of rifts, he said, “We don’t listen to what others say,” as Shivakumar stood beside him, nodding.
