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Mysore, Nov 21 (IANS) Amid the leadership row in Karnataka and a visit to Delhi by a group of ministers and MLAs reportedly demanding leadership change, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday said he will remain the chief minister and present the state budget for the remaining tenure of the government.
Speaking to reporters at Mysuru’s Mandakalli airport, Siddaramaiah made the remarks while answering questions on the issue of leadership within the Congress-led state government.
Asked whether he would present the state budget this year and for the remaining tenure, the Chief Minister replied, “Why are you (media) asking this question? Yes, I will continue to be the Chief Minister and will also present the budget.”
Responding to a question on whether he would meet Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah said, “Kharge is coming to Bengaluru today and I will meet him tomorrow (Saturday).”
Commenting on the leadership controversy in Karnataka, he said, “Has the Congress high command made any comment in this regard? Whatever decision they take, we will follow it. Everyone should follow the decision of the high command – MLAs, ministers, me, everyone.”
“Everything will be decided by the high command. I will inform the media whenever they tell anything.”
When journalists asked when the Congress high command would announce its decision, Siddaramaiah simply said that they should ask the high command directly.
The Chief Minister reiterated, “The decision will be taken by the high command. Be it a change of leadership or a cabinet reshuffle, who takes the decision? The high command. Has anyone spoken to the high command about this? Nothing can be done unless they do. Some people had spoken earlier also, and now also they have gone (to Delhi).”
He stressed that any decision taken by the Congress high command should be followed by him, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and all others.
When asked about the comments of former MP and Deputy CM Shivakumar’s younger brother DK Suresh, who had said he stood by his commitments, Siddaramaiah said, “I will not go back on my words. I have implemented all the guarantee schemes.”
When asked if Suresh’s comments were indicative of a power-sharing arrangement, Siddaramaiah replied that such matters would be decided by the party high command.
On the visit of Congress MLAs and ministers to Delhi, the Chief Minister asked, ‘Is there any rule that they should not go to Delhi?’
He said, “I don’t know whether Minister N Cheluvaryaswamy has gone to Delhi or not, but the Deputy CM has already given a statement on this. What else should I say? I spoke to Minister Cheluvaryaswamy; he told me he is in Delhi. Even today, during a video conference, he told me he was there to meet the Union Agriculture Minister.”
Meanwhile, a senior leader and financial advisor to the Chief Minister said in Bengaluru that the change of leadership is not a trivial matter.
“For the appointment of a new chief minister, the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will have to take a decision, and party stalwarts will guide the process. All MLAs will have to be called for a CLP meeting.”
Siddaramaiah said, “Without such a process, claims of changing the chief minister have no meaning. This discussion is unnecessary and irrelevant.”
On Thursday afternoon, MLAs of Shivkumar group flew to Delhi in two different planes. Agriculture Minister N. This group, under the leadership of Cheluvarayaswamy, included MLA K. Ranganath, SR Srinivas, Ganiga Ravi, Kadaluru Uday, Iqbal Hussain, TD Rajegowda, Shivanna, Mahendra Tammannavar, Sugar Minister Shivanand Patil, MLC S. Ravi and Dinesh Gooligowda.
Ministers Cheluvarayaswami and Shivanand Patil have said that they have reached Delhi on departmental work and they are not meeting the Congress national leadership on any political matter related to the state.
Political unrest within the Karnataka Congress is intensifying as the government completes two and a half years on Friday.
Sources confirmed on Thursday that a faction loyal to Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar has reached Delhi and started putting pressure on the party leadership demanding change of leadership.
Party leaders said the step is being taken in the backdrop of Deputy CM Shivakumar’s faction not receiving any clear message from the Congress high command regarding the long-pending power-sharing formula in Delhi.
This development comes after Deputy CM Shivakumar expressed his desire to step down as state party president at an event and also, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said there will be no leadership change in the state and discussions in this regard are unnecessary.
Sources close to the Deputy Chief Minister faction said that the MLAs who reached Delhi want to put pressure on the Congress high command for clarity on the power-sharing arrangement.
He also plans to emphasize on the earlier promise of transfer of power after two and a half years.
They will also demand to talk to the national leadership of the party and take a decision by December.
On Thursday afternoon, MLAs of Shivkumar group flew to Delhi in two different planes.
–IANS
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