Siddaramaiah’s ‘Lucky’ Reply To Congress MLA’s Leaked ‘Lottery’ Remark As Internal Rift Deepens
As Karnataka Congress faces turmoil, MLA Patil's leaked call questioned Siddaramaiah's CM ascent, citing his own role in connecting him with Sonia Gandhi. Siddaramaiah responded to the leaked remarks.
A political storm is brewing in Karnataka Congress after senior MLA B R Patil’s viral phone call and subsequent remarks raised fresh questions about Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s ascent, leading to speculation about leadership change within the party. While Patil aired his dissatisfaction, CM Siddaramaiah himself acknowledged he was “lucky” to become Chief Minister, and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar stepped in with a stern message on party discipline.
Siddaramaiah admits “I am lucky” amid criticism
According to PTI, when reporters asked about Patil’s remarks calling him “lucky”, Siddaramaiah responded candidly: “Yes, I am lucky. That’s why I became the Chief Minister.” This acknowledgment comes as Patil claimed he played a crucial role in connecting Siddaramaiah with Sonia Gandhi, which, according to Patil, helped the latter secure the top post.
Patil, expressing regret over his own stalled political prospects, told reporters, “I was among the eight MLAs who quit JD(S) and joined the Congress. A few are MLAs, and some others have become ministers. Lucky among us was Siddaramaiah as he became the Chief Minister.”
Patil’s viral call revives questions on Siddaramaiah’s rise
Patil, who represents Aland, was heard telling his close associates in a call that his pivotal role in facilitating Siddaramaiah’s meeting with Sonia Gandhi helped the latter secure the chief ministerial post. He remarked that Siddaramaiah became CM because of “favourable planetary positions”, while adding regretfully that his own political fortunes did not align in the same way.
"Siddaramaiah hit a lottery. I was the one who introduced him to Sonia Gandhi. His fortunes were good, and he became the Chief Minister," he was heard remarking.
Patil said, “I don’t have any godfather in the party nor a strong lobby, which is why I face hurdles in moving ahead.” He confirmed he had a detailed meeting with AICC General Secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala recently, during which Surjewala took his concerns seriously.
Patil’s phone conversation, recorded during his visit to KR Pet in Mandya, ended with him saying he would wait for the party high command’s decision on his future.
His remarks follow his allegations of corruption in housing allocations for the poor in his constituency, which were rubbished by Housing Minister B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan, who claimed that the allotment process was fully transparent. Following Patil’s outburst, two more Congress MLAs, Raju Kage and Belur Gopala Krishna, also expressed discontent with the state government, adding to the simmering tensions.
DK Shivakumar Issues Show-Cause Notice To MLA Who Supported His Elevation As CM
Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress President D K Shivakumar firmly denied any ongoing discussion about replacing Siddaramaiah. Speaking to reporters, he said, “Statements are being made. We want discipline in the party. Discipline is important. No issue of leadership change. There is no discussion or anything on this. No one is in a hurry, 2028 is important for us.”
PTI reported that Shivakumar issued a show-cause notice to Ramanagara MLA H A Iqbal Hussain for making public statements suggesting Shivakumar should soon become CM. The notice stated that Hussain’s remarks caused “confusion and embarrassment” and amounted to a violation of party discipline, directing him to explain his comments within a week.
Despite Shivakumar’s warning, Hussain told reporters after meeting Surjewala: “We want a change for Congress to come to power once again and for those in the party to grow further,” reaffirming his earlier demand.
Speculation over a power-sharing deal has resurfaced with MLAs like Hussain and Magadi’s H C Balakrishna suggesting Shivakumar should get an opportunity to lead. Hussain even claimed “over a hundred legislators are expecting a change,” asserting widespread support for Shivakumar.
Balakrishna, however, clarified he was not seeking Siddaramaiah’s immediate removal but felt the timing of any change should be left to the party high command.
The Congress had faced a tough contest between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for the CM post after the 2023 Assembly election. Though reports then suggested a possible rotational chief minister formula promising Shivakumar the CM post halfway into the term, the party has never officially confirmed such an arrangement.
As Congress high command looks to ease tensions and preserve unity in Karnataka, the statements from Patil, Siddaramaiah, and Shivakumar underscore the delicate balance of power in the state.
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