After JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy remarked "let him be CM", Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Saturday stated that he is not in hurry to be the CM of the state, news agency ANI reported. Speaking with media, Deputy CM stated: "We contested (the state) elections under collective leadership. We have to give good governance. I'm not in a hurry (to become CM). I have not demanded this from anyone, not even from the party leadership… We are following whatever the high command has said, Siddaramaiah is our leader, even CM Siddaramaiah has said the same, this is our commitment."
Earlier today, JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy pledged the support of all 19 JD(S) MLAs if Congress leader D K Shivakumar seeks to become Karnataka Chief Minister. The JD(S) state president questioned why the grand old party required JD(S) MLAs when it already had 136 in the 224-member parliament.
Shivakumar, the deputy chief minister and the Congress state president, is a possible candidate for the office of chief minister. Kumaraswamy's answer came in the wake of assertions by the Congress that several of his party's MLAs were eager to join the grand old party.
"Why should I be an impediment? Let us do one thing. Let him (DCM D K Shivakumar) be the Chief Minister tomorrow morning…. I will get the support of all 19 people (JD(S) MLA)," Kumaraswamy was quoted by PTI in its report.
He further stated: "Why should they (Congress leaders) unnecessarily say, ‘10 people are coming, five people are coming’, ‘They (JD-S MLAs) are ready’ and ‘discussions (with JD(S) MLAs) have already taken place under the leadership of (former minister) Krishnappa’. Didn’t they say such things before the Media?"