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Chamarajanagar (Karnataka), November 20 (IANS) Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has said that his position has only strengthened, and discussions about a possible leadership change in Karnataka are unnecessary.
“There is no such thing as a November revolution within the party,” he said.
He made this comment while talking to the media in Chamarajanagar on Thursday. It is noteworthy that on Thursday, on the completion of two and a half years of the Congress led government in the state, the discussion of change of leadership has come to the fore.
When asked about Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar’s brother DK Suresh’s comments that ‘Siddaramaiah is responsible, he will keep his word’ and ‘If lucky, Shivakumar will become CM’, Siddaramaiah said, “I will not comment on it. People have given us a five-year mandate. We will focus on fulfilling the assurances given in the Congress manifesto.”
Asked whether his visit to Chamarajanagar – a place some political leaders consider dystopian, believing they lose power after the visit – would impact his position, Siddaramaiah replied, “Yes. Power will remain with me, and it is going to get stronger in the coming days.”
To a question about discussions on whether he would remain CM for the full five-year term, he commented, “What does this mean? A discussion on this is unnecessary. I had told the high command to wait till the government completes half its term before carrying out a cabinet reshuffle. On the basis of that, this discussion has taken place.”
On the question whether any date has been fixed for the cabinet reshuffle, he said that it has not been decided yet. “AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge will talk to Rahul Gandhi in this regard,” he said.
“There is no confusion on the cabinet reshuffle; you (media) are creating confusion. National leaders have told that they will discuss the matter and inform me. Two cabinet posts are vacant. The total number should be 34. After the resignation of Nagendra and KN Rajanna, two posts are vacant and will be filled during the reshuffle,” he said.
When asked whether the party would contest the 2028 elections under his leadership, he said, “Let the elections come, we will see.”
He reiterated, “There is no revolution in the party in November. The media has created this story. There is no such revolution. These discussions are unnecessary. The people have given us a mandate of five years. There will be elections again after five years – and we will return to power.”
Siddaramaiah further said, “Every time I have visited Chamarajanagar, my position has become stronger. Even now, my position is strong and will get stronger. I do not believe in superstitions. Whether I visit Chamarajanagar or any other district, it does not matter to me. I will visit all the 31 districts of the state. Firstly, I do not believe in such superstitions. Secondly, those who claim that after visiting Chamarajanagar Leaders lose power, they should note that my visits have only strengthened my position. Third, the notion that leaders lose power after visiting Chamarajanagar is baseless.
Amid discussions of leadership change and power sharing, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President DK Shivakumar’s younger brother and former Congress MP DK Suresh has said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is responsible and he will not go back on his word. The timing of the statement has assumed significance as the Congress-led government has completed two and a half years of its tenure. Suresh’s remarks are being seen in political circles in the state as a reminder to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to vacate the CM post for Shivakumar, as it was reportedly agreed to share the post equally between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar as per the power-sharing arrangement.
–IANS
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