Amid Karnataka High Court hearing a petition filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah challenging the Governor's sanction for his prosecution in the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) site allotment case, a race appears to be unfolding within the Congress for the state's top leadership role in the event of a change.
The Karnataka High Court is set to continue hearing Siddaramaiah's petition on September 12, in which he challenges the Governor's decision to grant sanction for his prosecution under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Should there be a leadership change, Deputy Chief Minister and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) President D.K. Shivakumar is considered a leading contender, as reported by PTI. However, names of other senior leaders like Home Minister G. Parameshwara and Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi have also emerged, particularly after their recent meetings with the party high command in New Delhi.
Spat Between Congress Ministers
A verbal spat has broken out between two senior Congress ministers, M.B. Patil and Shivanand Patil, over seniority as a factor in becoming the Chief Minister. R.V. Deshpande, Chairperson of the Administrative Reforms Commission and a senior MLA, has also publicly expressed his interest in the position, citing his seniority in the party.
On Tuesday, Basavaraj Rayareddy, a senior Congress MLA from Yelburga and a close associate of Siddaramaiah, has also thrown his hat in the ring for the chief minister's post. Rayareddy, a Lingayat leader from the Kalyana-Karnataka region, asserted his suitability, as per PTI saying, "If the party considers a Lingayat leader from the region, I am a front runner."
Rayareddy noted that there is nothing wrong with various leaders expressing their aspirations for the chief ministership, stating, "The chief minister's post is not vacant, and so there is no need for anyone to desire it. But if there is a change, there is nothing wrong with people like R.V. Deshpande, Satish Jarkiholi, M.B. Patil, or myself expressing our interest."
He also highlighted his seniority, pointing out that he has been elected the most number of times from the Hyderabad-Karnataka region. "If our party wants to select from the Lingayat community or choose among senior leaders, there is nothing wrong with selecting me," he said, as per the report.
Rayareddy further acknowledged the presence of many senior leaders from the Vokkaliga community, such as T.B. Jayachandra and D.K. Shivakumar, and conceded that Shivakumar is indeed a strong contender. He maintained that while he is open to becoming the chief minister if the Hyderabad-Karnataka region is considered, he believes that Siddaramaiah should continue in the role for another three and a half years.
'Let's Wait For Court Orders': Karnataka HM
Amid the speculations, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara clarified that CM Siddaramaiah won't be stepping down.
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, " First of all... CM Siddaramaiah won't be stepping down. In the court, we don't know what the judgement is going to be. Let's wait for the orders of the court...legal procedures in case the judgement goes against CM, are open to govt and CM."
"He can appeal to the Supreme Court...there is a process...hypothetically if there is a vacancy, if the order goes against him even in the Supreme Court, if he has to step down, selection process is left to the high command and MLAs. I might be capable of becoming the CM but there is a process. There are 136 MLAs and they will have to select a leader," he said.