‘Shivakumar Will Become CM, Has Support Of 138 MLAs’: Cong Leader Fuels Karnataka Leadership Change Buzz Again

Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda publicly voiced support for DK Shivakumar, saying that he has a support of 138 MLAs and would become the Karnataka CM when the time comes.

Speculations are rife that Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar, who is also the Congress state president, would take over Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's role midway in the present regime.

Source : PTI

The ongoing specualtion over the Chief Minister's post in Karnataka was rekindled on Monday after Congress MLA's "support of 138 MLAs" and "DK Shivakumar will become CM" claims stirred the political circles in the state once again. His remarks come at a time of intense buzz around power-sharing and a potential leadership change in Karnataka.

Congress MLA Ravikumar Gowda publicly commented on his CM preference, openly voicing support for the Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to assume the top post.

"DK Shivakumar will become CM when the time comes. 138 MLAs are in favour of DK Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah. When the time comes, he will also become CM. If the time and the circumstances come together, it will be good. He must become CM; and he will," Gowda said, as reported by news agency ANI.

'Siddaramaiah Trying To Mobilise Support With Money, Power': Pralhad Joshi

Meanwhile, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi claimed that Siddaramaiah has more support and that he was using money and power to mobilise more backing. 

"The Congress High Command is weak. Now, the situation is such that the one who gets MLA support will be the CM. Hence, both DCM DK Shivakumar and CM Siddaramaiah are involved in the trading of horses," ANI quoted Joshi as saying.

"Siddaramaiah claims to have more support. He is trying to mobilise MLAs' support with money and power. Our intention is that they should complete a 5-year term as they have the full mandate," he added.

Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna on Sunday asserted that Siddaramaiah would continue as Chief Minister for the entire tenure. Siddaramaiah had also stressed the same when asked about the potential leadership change. 

“Yes, Siddaramaiah will be Chief Minister for five years. If change is there, only the high command and MLAs can do (it). I think both are not ready to change now,” he said, adding that Siddaramaiah "will never go to Delhi".

Shivakumar's Brother Says 'No Conflict In Congress'

Two other Congress leaders, Tanveer Sait and HA Iqbal Hussain, had supported Shivakumar publicly.  Mallikarjun Kharge, on the other hand, has time and again dismissed reshuffle talks. However, there is buzz that internal reviews are underway and that some ministers are being scrutinised for corruption and performance. No official confirnation has been made yet.

Shivakumar's brother and former Lok Sabha member D K Suresh on Saturday clarified that his brother is neither in a hurry nor under pressure regarding the CM post. He also rubbished reports of internal conflict in the party.

"There is no conflict in the Congress party. The high command, the chief minister and Shivakumar have already clarified the matter. Siddaramaiah has said he will continue in leadership. Yet we don't know why there is confusion in the media," PTI quoted him as saying.